Today in History: February 9, Halley’s Comet passes by Earth

Halley's Comet, a celestial body notorious for its periodic appearances in our solar system, made its closest approach to Earth on February 9, 1986. This particular visit marked Halley's first return since 1910, with the comet expected to reappear again in 2061.

On this fateful day, a significant event was unfolding on another front – the US presidential election process. In 1825, John Quincy Adams was elected president after receiving no electoral votes from any candidate. This unusual outcome led to Adams' ascension to the White House, marking a pivotal moment in American history.

World War II also claimed attention on February 9, as Allied forces secured an important victory at Guadalcanal in the southwest Pacific. The island's capture marked a crucial turning point in the war, ultimately leading to Japan's withdrawal from the region.

As politics continued to shape global events, Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin delivered a provocative speech to the Women's Republican Club in 1950, accusing the State Department of harboring Communists. This incendiary rhetoric would have lasting impacts on American politics and society.

In the realm of popular culture, 1964 was a year that will forever be associated with The Beatles' historic live television appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' The iconic performance marked a defining moment in the Fab Four's global rise to fame, leaving an indelible mark on music history.

Further back in time, two significant earthquakes occurred. A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck California's San Fernando Valley in 1971, claiming 65 lives and serving as a stark reminder of the region's seismic vulnerabilities.

In more recent years, notable events continued to unfold. In 1984, Soviet leader Yuri Andropov passed away, paving the way for Konstantin Chernenko's brief tenure as general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, baseball legend Vladimir Guerrero was born in 1971.

The world also witnessed milestones in various fields. In 2009, Alex Rodriguez confessed to using performance-enhancing substances during his time with the Texas Rangers, while 'Parasite,' a South Korean film, made history as the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020.

Other events and birthdays worth noting include Senator Donald Trump's second impeachment trial, which concluded on February 13, 2021. As for celebrities, notable individuals born on this day include renowned artists Gerhard Richter and Carole King, as well as actors Joe Pesci, Mia Farrow, Charlie Day, Tom Hiddleston, Michael B. Jordan, and Rose Leslie, among many others.
 
I was just thinking about what I had for lunch 🍔🤔... you know, the usual stuff. And then I started wondering, have you ever noticed how weird it is that people always seem to make a big deal on February 9th? Like, it's not even close to being a traditionally 'important' day or anything. Unless you're into comets and politics, of course 🚀🗳️... which, I mean, who isn't right? But seriously, can we talk about how cool it is that there are so many interesting events happening throughout history on this one day? It's like the world just decided to throw a party and invite everyone. And hey, while we're at it, has anyone seen that new documentary series on Netflix about space exploration? I'm totally binge-watching it next weekend 📺👽
 
I cant believe how old some of these events are 🤯. I mean, 1986 already feels like ancient history. And the fact that Halley's Comet came back after 75 years is just mind-blowing. It's crazy to think about how it was also a time when John Quincy Adams became president in 1825... what a wild ride that must've been 🤪. And can you imagine being alive during World War II, witnessin' the whole thing go down? Wow. I also feel bad for all those people who died from earthquakes back in '71 and '71 again... it's just awful 😔. But hey, at least we got to enjoy some amazing music with The Beatles and Parasite breakin' records 🎸👏.
 
omg did u no that halley's comet is back 🚀?? it was 1986 and it was like a super rare thing for us to see it get so close to earth!! i mean its been a while since we last saw it in 2061 lol. anywayz, what's up w/ the history stuff? i feel like i've heard of john quincy adams b4 but i dont really no much about him 🤔. also, who was joe mccarthy again? sounds like a major drama queen 😒
 
🤔 February 9th is just an excuse for people to make a big deal out of stuff that happened years ago. Like who even cares about Halley's Comet showing up in 1986? It's not like it's the first time it's come around or anything. And don't even get me started on politics - John Quincy Adams getting elected without any electoral votes from anyone is just weird. Can you imagine if that happened today and still had some effect on who got to be president?

And what's with all these random facts? I mean, I guess it's cool to know about the Guadalcanal battle and The Beatles and Parasite winning Oscars... but what does it really say about anything except how old we are getting to be.

I'm not saying none of this is interesting or important - I'm just saying, can't they all just get along? Like when you're scrolling through your phone and you see one of these articles pop up with a bunch of random stuff. You can't help but wonder why it's there in the first place... 🤷‍♂️
 
omg like what's up with halley's comet tho? it's been a while since it came back 🤯 i mean i was born in 2005 so never seen it in person lol but its cool that it made an appearance again on feb 9th 1986 and stuff 💫 anyway did u know that john quincy adams got elected as president after like getting no electoral votes from anyone wut? 🤔 thats wild american history is weird 😂
 
You know what's wild? These historical events happening on February 9th every year are like a cosmic reminder of the impact humans can have on each other's lives 🌠. I mean, from Halley's Comet's close approach to Earth, which is basically a natural spectacle that reminds us of our place in the universe 🌎, to the US presidential election process, World War II victories, and politics shaping global events... it's like the world is this crazy, complex web of stories 🤯.

And then there are the cultural moments, like The Beatles' appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show', which marked a turning point in music history 🎵. It's amazing how these events can shape our understanding of who we are and where we come from 👀. And let's not forget about the celebrities born today, which is basically a who's who list of talented individuals making us proud 🤩.

I think what I love most about February 9th is how it brings together all these different threads of human experience 🧵. It's like this big tapestry of stories that remind us we're not alone in our experiences, and that our individual moments are connected to something much bigger than ourselves 💖.
 
OMG you guys 2025 already 🤯 lol i was just chillin when i saw this article about Halley's Comet 🌟 did u know its closest approach to Earth is like super rare?? they say its gonna come back in 2061 which is even older than grandma 😂 anyway on a more serious note, it's wild to think about all the history that went down on feb 9th from ww2 to the beatles 🎸🎶 i mean what can u do but respect the past? 💕
 
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