On this day

24 October in history.

5 moments from 1851 to 2003: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

British astronomer William Lassell (1799–1880)

1851

Two new moons of Uranus are found. William Lassell discovered Ariel and Umbriel, the third and fourth moons of Uranus ever found.

Wikipedia: William Lassell

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 24 October

  1. Monument near the site of the former telegraph office in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. This telegraph office is where, in October 1861, the connection completing the first transcontinental telegraph in the United States was made. The monument was built by the Sons of Utah Pione…

    1861

    A telegraph line crosses America

    The first telegraph line stretching across the United States from coast to coast was completed.

    Wikipedia: First transcontinental telegraph

    Photo: Beneathtimp / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

  2. The first photos taken from space were taken on October 24, 1946 on the sub-orbital U.S.-launched V-2 rocket (flight #13) at White Sands Missile Range. Photos were taken every second and a half. The highest altitude (65 miles, 105 km) was 5 times higher than any picture taken be…

    1946

    The first photo of Earth from space

    A camera carried on a rocket took the first photograph of Earth from outer space.

    Wikipedia: V-2 No. 13

    Photo: U.S. Army / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Unadjusted gender gap in median earnings, World

    1975

    Iceland's women take a day off for fair pay

    To protest unequal pay and unfair treatment at work, 90 percent of women in Iceland went on strike for a day.

    Wikipedia: Gender pay gapWikipedia: 1975 Icelandic women's strike

    Photo: OECD (2017) – processed by Our World in Data / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

  4. 2003

    The first Afro-Asian Games open

    Hyderabad hosted the opening of the first-ever Afro-Asian Games. 2,040 athletes came from 96 countries to compete.

    Wikipedia: 2003 Afro-Asian GamesWikipedia: Hyderabad

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.