This Day In History, April 10th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on April 10th.
The year 837 marks the closest cometary encounter in recorded history when Halley's Comet approaches Earth at a distance of 0.0342 AU (5.1 million kilometers).
Galileo Galilei is forced by the Catholic Church to renounce his heliocentric theory of the solar system, which held that the Earth and other planets revolved around the Sun, in 1633.
The first United States Patent Act, which promotes innovation by guaranteeing inventors exclusive rights to their innovations for a certain amount of time, is signed into law by U.S. President George Washington in 1790.
The Penny Black postage stamp, the first adhesive postage stamp ever, is released in the UK in 1847.
The RMS Titanic embarks on its tragic first trip to New York City in 1912 from Southampton, England.
This Day In History, April 10th 837 - Halley's Comet makes its closest approach to Earth at a distance of 0.0342 AU (5.1 million kilometers), the closest approach of any comet in recorded history.
About every 76 years, Halley's Comet makes a periodic visit to the inner solar system. On April 10, 837, it made its closest known pass by Earth at a distance of 0.0342 astronomical units (AU), or around 5.1 million kilometers (3.2 million miles). Edmond Halley, who accurately foresaw the comet's return in 1705 based on its prior sightings in 1531 and 1607, is honored with the comet's name. In 2061, Halley's Comet is predicted to be next seen from Earth.
The Catholic Church forces Galileo Galilei to recant his heliocentric view of the solar system, which stated that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun.
On April 10, 1633, the Catholic Church ordered the Italian astronomer and mathematician Galileo Galilei to retract his heliocentric theory of the solar system. Galileo's study challenged the Church's geocentric concept of the solar system, which placed the Earth at its center, and endorsed the Copernican model of the solar system with the Sun at its center. Galileo officially repudiated his beliefs after being tortured and placed on trial for being a heretic. He was under house arrest for the remainder of his life, but his contributions to modern astronomy have endured.
U.S. President George Washington signs into law the first United States Patent Act, which encourages innovation by granting inventors exclusive rights to their inventions for a limited period of time.
George Washington, the president of the United States, ratified the first United States Patent Act on April 10, 1790. By allowing inventors a temporary exclusive right to their innovations, the legislation aims to promote innovation and creativity. This made it possible for innovators to make money off of their innovations, which in turn fueled scientific advancement and economic expansion in the United States. The foundation of the current U.S. patent system was formed by the Patent Act of 1790.
1847 - The world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, is issued in the United Kingdom.
The Penny Black, the first adhesive postage stamp ever produced, was released in the UK on April 10, 1840. The Queen Victoria-themed stamp was made to be adhered to the upper right corner of an envelope to show that postage has been paid. The Penny Black was a crucial development in the history of postal services since it increased the affordability and accessibility of shipping letters and goods for individuals all throughout the nation. Adhesive postage stamps were swiftly adopted by other nations, and they are still a standard component of postal systems today.
The RMS Titanic sets sail from Southampton, England on its ill-fated maiden voyage to New York City.
The RMS Titanic, a lavish passenger liner, departed Southampton, England on April 10, 1912, bound for New York City. One of the biggest and most opulent ships of its day, the Titanic was built to be a representation of the best British engineering and design. But only four days into her journey, the Titanic perished after colliding with an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean, killing more than 1,500 people, including both passengers and crew. One of the worst maritime catastrophes in history, the Titanic's sinking has captivated the public's attention for more than a century.