Yuri’s night is normally observed on April 12. This day marks the first man to launch into space, as well as the tremendous achievements in space exploration. You can go stargazing or visit a local planetarium.
Spare some time to also read these interesting facts about April 12 in history.
- 1848-Phineas Pratt patented the comb cutting machine.
- 1833-Charles Gaylor patented the fireproof safe.
- 1861-The American Civil War began on this day.
- 1916-American cavalrymen and Mexican bandit troops clashed at Parrel, Mexico.
- 1937-The first aircraft jet engine was successfully tested.
- 1938-The first U.S. law requiring a medical test for a marriage license was enacted in New York.
- 1955-The University of Michigan Polio Vaccine Evaluation Center announced that the polio vaccine of Dr. Jonas Salk was “safe, effective and potent.”
- 1961-Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.
- 1981-The Space Shuttle blasts off into space for the first time.
- 1982-The British Navy began enforcing a blockade around the Falkland Islands.
- 1983-Harold Washington was elected the first black mayor of Chicago.
- 1987-Texaco filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy after it failed to settle a legal dispute with Pennzoil Co.
- 1988-The Last Emperor received nine Academy Awards.
- 1989-In the U.S.S.R, ration cards were issued for the first time since World War II.
- 1990-James Brown moved to a work-release center after serving 15 months of a 6-year sentence for weapon and drug-related convictions.
- 1992-Disneyland Paris opened in Marne-La-Vallee, France.
- 2002-A first edition version of Beatrix Potter’s “Peter Rabbit” sold for $64,780 at Sotheby’s.
- 2002-The South African version of “Sesame Street” announced plans to feature a character that was HIV-positive.
- 2009-President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority made a courtesy call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, restarting the Palestinian-Israeli dialogue.
- 2012-Candy Crush Saga was released on Facebook.