World Elephant Day

 Events
Aug 122025
 

African Elephant

World Elephant Day is today! The day was first celebrated on August 12, 2012, by Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. Three types of elephant exist, the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant. The African bush elephant is listed as endangered, the African forest elephant in critically endangered, and the Asian elephant is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The elephant is the largest land mammal, and all three types of elephant are herbivores.

Echo 1A Was Launched in 1960

 Events
Aug 122025
 

Echo 1A, the first passive communications satellite, was successfully launched in 1960. The 100-foot diameter balloon reflected communications signals to desired locations. Only one other passive communications satellite was launched until NASA decided to use active satellites. Experts predicted Echo 1A would last only until 1964. However, Echo 1A remained intact and reentered earth’s atmosphere on May 24, 1968. The satellite was destroyed by friction and heat. Children could learn more at: Echo 1A.

Sue Was Discovered in South Dakota in 1990

 Events
Aug 122025
 

Sues_skeletonSue, the largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil skeleton, was discovered by Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota in 1990. Sue is 42 feet long and probably weighed 6.4 tons when alive. After a dispute over ownership was solved, she was sold to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. Children could learn more at the Museum’s website at: Sue.

Parker Solar Probe Made Its Closest Flyby of the Sun

 Events
Dec 242025
 

Parker Solar Probe passed within 3.8 million miles of the sun around 6:53 EST in 2024. The unmanned NASA probe was launched August 12, 2018. Traveling at 430,000 miles per hour, the spacecraft has flown past the sun on previous occasions. The craft is named after Eugene Parker, an astrophysicist who predicted the existence of solar winds.