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Famous supernova, the SN 1987A, is seen

The star explosion occurred in Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy, approximately 168,000 light years from Earth. From the Southern Hemisphere, it was easily visible to the naked eye. It was the first supernova observable without special equipment from 1604. First astronomers who saw SN 1987A were Ian Shelton and Oscar Duhalde, at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile and Albert Jones in New Zealand.

Diesel engine is patented

German inventor Rudolf Diesel patented his new engine. It burns fuel oil rather than gasoline, and uses high compressed of the gases in the cylinder rather than a spark to ignite the fuel. Diesel engines are more effective than gasoline engines but they produce more air pollutants. They are widely used in heavy industrial machinery.

German mathematician Carl Gauss dies

Gauss made many contributions to mathematics, but also physics and astronomy. He wrote his magnum opus, Disquisitiones Arithmeticae (Arithmetical Investigations), in 1798, at the age of 21. Once he was interrupted in the middle of a problem and told that his wife was dying. He said, "Tell her to wait a moment till I'm done."

Gutenberg prints his first Bible

The Gutenberg Bible was the first major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe. It marked the start of the "Gutenberg Revolution" and the age of the printed book in the West. Written in Latin, the Gutenberg Bible is an edition of the Vulgate, printed by Johannes Gutenberg, in Mainz.

Anniversaries of the (in)famous