From the July 2002 issue
A timeline of events and discoveries since 1980
ByAstronomy Staff | Published: July 29, 2002| Last updated on May 18, 2023
Though nearly 22 years have passed since Cosmos first aired, the integrity of the program’s science remains largely intact. Still, the space science community has made many advances since Carl Sagan’s 13-part television series broadcast in 1980. This timeline points out some of the significant discoveries and events in the world of astronomy and space exploration during that year and since.
On April 12, 1981, Columbia became the first space shuttle to achieve lift off. John Young commanded the 2-day, 6-hour mission, and Robert Crippen piloted the craft.
NASA
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
This photograph of Comet Halley was taken during its closest pass by Earth – 39 million miles.
NOAO
1985
1986
Three rings of glowing gas encircle the site of supernova 1987A.
Christopher Burrows, ESA / STScI / NASA
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
The images from lower right to upper left show the evolution of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9’s impact plume beginning at roughly 5 minutes after the G impact and progressing to 5 days after the G impact.
STScI / JPL / NASA
1993
1994
1995
Accurate polar-alignment and a short-focus wide-angle lens may allow piggyback exposures of up to an hour.
David Healy
1996
1997
1998
The Chandra X-ray Observatory was deployed by the Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1999. Its purpose is to study the x-ray universe to provide unique and crucial new information about the structure and evolution of our universe.
NASA
1999
2000
2001
2002
Up Next
Science, Solar System
Volcanic moon Io gets close-up look from Earth observatory
Science
How we can understand our universe through math
Observing, Science, The Moon
2024 Full Moon calendar: Dates, times, types, and names
Science
The Gravity of Math: How Geometry Rules the Universe
Robotic Spaceflight, Science, Solar System
Venus likely has active volcanoes, flowing streams of lava
Exotic Objects, Robotic Spaceflight, Science
How Chandra’s clear, sharp photos help study supermassive black holes
Science, Solar System
Is Pluto a planet? It depends.
Exoplanets, Science
‘This planet should not be there.’ Second lightest exoplanet known to date surprises astronomers
Astronomy for beginners, Science, Solar System
What it means for planets to align