The point where the Earth is closest to the Sun. It currently happens around 3rd January.
Perihelion
Fact of the Day
A third of Hungarians are thought to have died during the Mongol invasions of the 13th century.
Quote of the Day
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
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~ Martin Luther King
On This Day
1492 The Ensisheim meteorite, the oldest meteorite with a known date of impact, struck outside the village of Ensisheim, in Alsace, France. The only witness was a small boy.
1872 The Mary Celeste left New York harbour bound for Genoa. She was found abandoned four weeks later.
1908 Notorious bank robbers Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were killed in a shoot-out with police in Bolivia (although their death will always be disputed).
1916 Jeanette Rankin of Montana became the first woman to be elected to the US Congress.
1917 (NS) The October Revolution started when the Bolsheviks seized control of Petrograd.