Today in history

Today is Friday, Sept. 28, the 271st day of 2018 and the seventh day of autumn.

Today’s History: In 1066, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, invaded England.

In 1924, the first aerial circumnavigation of the world, conducted by a team of aviators from the U.S. Army Air Service, ended in Seattle, Washington, after 175 days.

In 2000, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the pregnancy-terminating drug RU486 after a 12-year controversy.

In 2008, the space transportation company SpaceX launched Falcon 1, the first private spacecraft, into orbit.

Today’s Fact: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rockets were named after the Millennium Falcon spacecraft from the movie “Star Wars.”

Today’s Sports: In 1941, Ted Williams hit 6-for-8 in a doubleheader to finish the season with a batting average over .400 (.406), a feat no player since has accomplished.

Today’s Quote: “Miranda Sawyer had a heart, of course, but she had never used it for any other purpose than the pumping and circulating of blood.” -- Kate Douglas Wiggin, “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”

Today’s Number: 6.8 -- depth (in miles) below sea level of Challenger Deep, the lowest point on Earth, located at the bottom of the Marianas Trench in the western Pacific Ocean.

Today’s Moon: Between full moon (Sept. 24) and last quarter moon (Oct. 2).