This Day In History : August 25

2012 United States

Voyager 1 spacecraft enters interstellar space as the first man made object

On August 25, 2012, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft became the first man-made object to enter interstellar space. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 journeyed through the solar system, providing unprecedented data and images of the outer planets. Its entry into interstellar space, approximately 11 billion miles from Earth, marked a historic milestone in space exploration, as it began transmitting data about the environment outside the influence of our Sun's solar wind.

Also on This Day in History August 25

Discover what happened on August 25 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, August 25
  • 1841 Theodor Kocher

    Theodor Emil Kocher was a Swiss surgeon who did pioneering work on the physiology, pathology and surgery of the thyroid gland for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1909.

  • 1793 Martin Heinrich Rathke

    German physiologist and pathologist who was one of the founders of modern embryology.

  • 1877 Joshua Lionel Cowen

    American inventor of electric model trains who founded the Lionel Corporation (1901), which became the largest U.S. toy train manufacturer.

  • 1910 Arnold Neustadter

    American inventor of the Rolodex, an alphabetized rotating card file with a ball-bearing clutch.

  • 1796 James Lick

    American businessman and philanthropist who placed $700,000 in trust (1874) to build the Lick Observatory at the summit of Mount Hamilton near San Jose, California.

Deaths on This Day, August 25
  • 1975 John R. Dunning

    John Ray Dunning was an American nuclear physicist whose experiments in nuclear fission helped lay the groundwork for the development of the atomic bomb.

  • 2012 Neil Armstrong

    American astronaut who was the first man to walk on the moon (20 Jul 1969, Apollo 11).

  • 1956 George Washington Pierce

    American inventor who was a pioneer in radiotelephony and a noted teacher of communication engineering.

  • 1908 Henri Becquerel

    Antoine-Henri Becquerel was a French physicist who discovered radioactivity in fluorescent salts of uranium.

  • 2024 Cyril Stanley Smith

    British-American metallurgist who in 1943-44 determined the properties and technology of plutonium and uranium, the essential materials in the atomic bombs that were first exploded in 1945.

1609

Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers

On August 25, 1609, Galileo Galilei demonstrated his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers in Venice, Italy. Galileo's telescope was an improved version of the earlier Dutch design, capable of magnifying objects up to 20 times. This demonstration showcased the potential of telescopic observation and paved the way for Galileo's subsequent astronomical discoveries, including the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus.
1916

The United States National Park Service is created

On August 25, 1916, the United States National Park Service (NPS) was established by an act signed by President Woodrow Wilson. The NPS was created to manage and preserve the country's national parks, monuments, and other historical sites, ensuring their protection for future generations.
1980

Zimbabwe joins the United Nations

On August 25, 1980, Zimbabwe joined the United Nations, following its recognition as an independent nation. Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia, gained independence from British colonial rule on April 18, 1980, after a prolonged liberation struggle. The country's entry into the UN marked its formal acceptance into the international community as a sovereign state.
1825

Uruguay declares independence from Brazil (National Day)

On August 25, 1825, Uruguay declared its independence from Brazil. This day is celebrated annually as Uruguay's National Day. The declaration was a pivotal moment in the country's history, marking the end of Brazilian control and the beginning of Uruguay's journey towards becoming a sovereign nation.
1883

Mount Krakatoa, an island volcano in the Dutch Indies (now Indonesia) erupted

In 1883, Mount Krakatoa, an island volcano in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), erupted with violent explosions that destroyed two-thirds of the island. The eruption began on August 26 and culminated in a series of massive explosions on August 27. These explosions were among the most violent volcanic events in recorded history, generating powerful tsunamis and resulting in significant climatic effects worldwide.
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