Today in history

Today is the 205th day of 2020 and the 34th day of summer.

Today’s history: In 1962, the Telstar 1 satellite transmitted the first live, trans-Atlantic TV broadcast, featuring CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite.

▪ In 1967, the 12th Street Riots began in Detroit, ending five days later and resulting in 43 people dead, hundreds injured and more than 1,400 buildings burned to the ground.

▪ In 1999, with the launch of Columbia, Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a U.S. space shuttle flight.

Today’s fact: Comet Hale-Bopp, discovered on this day in 1995, was visible to the naked eye for a record 18 months, from May 1996 to December 1997. The previous record holder, the Great Comet of 1811, was visible for about nine months.

Today’s sports: In 1996, injured American gymnast Kerri Strug scored a 9.7 on the vault as the U.S. won its first-ever Olympic gold medal in the women’s team gymnastics competition.

Today’s quote: “I don’t see me doing $100 million films, because $100 million films, the very nature of them, you need to offend as few people as possible just to make your money back.” — Eriq La Salle

Today’s number: 1,400 — the distance from Earth (in light years) of Kepler-452b, a potentially Earthlike exoplanet orbiting within the habitable zone of a star in the constellation Cygnus. NASA announced its discovery on this day in 2015.

Today’s moon: Between new moon (July 20) and first quarter moon (July 27).