November 28: historical facts and curiosities

Today is a great day to plan ahead and organize your upcoming commitments.

On November 28, 1520, Ferdinand Magellan's expedition successfully navigated through the treacherous strait at the southern tip of South America, which would later bear his name. After 38 days of challenging sailing, his fleet emerged into a vast, calm ocean. Magellan named it "Mar Pacifico" due to its peaceful appearance compared to the Atlantic storms they had endured. This momentous passage was a critical step in the first circumnavigation of the Earth, confirming the existence of a westward route to the Spice Islands.

On November 28, 1964, NASA launched Mariner 4. It became the first spacecraft to successfully fly by Mars, capturing and transmitting humanity's first 22 close-up images of another planet. These historic photos revealed a surprisingly cratered, moon-like surface, revolutionizing our understanding of the Red Planet. Mariner 4's mission debunked many previous theories about Mars' environment and paved the way for subsequent robotic exploration.