◆ On this day

October 9

5 sourced moments from October 9 in history: Kepler's 1604 supernova: the last one seen in the Milky Way; The Washington Monument Opened to the Public (1888); Uganda won independence on 9 October 1962 via a ballot deal, plus 2 more.

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5 things happened on October 9

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1992 Space · Solar System

Peekskill meteorite: the car-crushing fall caught on video

In October 1992 a 12-kg space rock hit a teenager's Chevy Malibu, and footage from Friday-night football games let scientists trace its orbit.

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1967 History · Modern

Che Guevara's 1967 execution was passed off as a battle death

Bolivia said Che died of battle wounds. A CIA memo written two days later recorded the kill order, the time and the rifle.

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1962 History · Modern

Uganda won independence on 9 October 1962 via a ballot deal

Uganda's 1962 independence came through elections, not war — and a last-minute alliance with Buganda's king decided who would lead it.

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1888 Geography · Landmarks & Wonders

The Washington Monument Opened to the Public

After nearly four decades of stalled construction, the world's tallest structure finally welcomed visitors to ride to its summit.

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1604 Space · Stars & Galaxies

Kepler's 1604 supernova: the last one seen in the Milky Way

SN 1604 outshone Jupiter for weeks and is the last supernova in our galaxy seen by eye, but not the last to explode.

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