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On This Date in History - February 28

by Nick Greene
for About.com

Daily Extra :

Astronomy & Space Word of The Day

refraction: The bending of light due to a change in its velocity as it passes the boundary between two materials (e.g. a pencil inserted into a glass of water will look bent due to refraction.)

Who Was Born Today?:

1786: D Francois J Arago, French astronomer/physicist/politician

Who Died Today?:

1966: Charles A Bassett II, astronaut, dies at 34, in a crash of T-38 jet
1966: Elliot McKay See Jr, astronaut, dies at 38 in T-38 jet crash

Today in History:

1826: M Biela, an Austrian officer, discovers Biela's Comet

1959: Launch of Discoverer 1 (WTR)-1st polar orbit

1990: U.S. 65th manned space mission STS 36 (Atlantis 6) launches into orbit

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Check out the former Astronomy Picture of the Day. See what surprises await you this week.

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