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Athena E.

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Fact of the Day: How Perth got the name 'City of Lights'​

G'day, members! Are you ready for today's Fascinating Fact!

Did you know why Perth was known as the City of Lights? It's because when astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, passed over the city on February 20, 1962, thousands of residents turned on their lights, lit lanterns, and shone torches to the sky to greet him. What a nice gesture, eh?


Source: 9News Perth / Youtube​
 
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I'm pretty sure it would have been 1992 - not 1962 as we were living in Perth at the time and I remember making sure we would be outside to watch John Glenn pass overhead in the sky. We did see it and so did the kids as it was visible and you could see it moving. It was a special moment for us but it wasn't in 1962 as stated as a fact. The whole of Perth turned on their lights for John and it was big news back then.
 
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oldchook58 said:
I'm pretty sure it would have been 1992 - not 1962 as we were living in Perth at the time and I remember making sure we would be outside to watch John Glenn pass overhead in the sky. We did see it and so did the kids as it was visible and you could see it moving. It was a special moment for us but it wasn't in 1962 as stated as a fact. The whole of Perth turned on their lights for John and it was big news back then.
Click to expand...
You're right, we were outside too, in 1962 he was the first American to orbit the earth.
 
Hello @oldchook58! According to ABC, John Glenn's first spaceflight took place on February 20, 1962. He flew into space again 36 years later, on October 29, 1998, and passed by Perth once more. During his second flight, he became the oldest person to fly in space! :)

References:

'City of light' marks historic spaceflight › News in Science (ABC Science)

Perth is celebrating the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's historic flight aboard Friendship-7.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au
www.nasa.gov

Oct. 29, 1998 - John Glenn Returns to Space - NASA

On October 29, 1998, the first American to orbit the Earth made history again. John Glenn became the oldest man to fly in space by serving as a payload
www.nasa.gov www.nasa.gov
 
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