Mercury is the planet that is closest to the Sun and also the smallest planet in the Solar System. Until recently, the smallest planet was considered to be Pluto, but now scientist changed their minds and have decided Pluto is not a planet and so the title has shifted back to Mercury. Mercury measures 4,879 km along its equator, Earth is 12,742 km across, so Mercury is only 38% the diameter of Earth. In terms of volume, Mercury has only 0.05 the volume of the Earth, meaning you could fit 20 Mercury’s inside Earth’s crust with room to spare.
What poet is known as America’s first “poet of democracy”?
Walt Whitman, most famous for his poetry collection Leaves of Grass has been called “America’s poet”, “the great poet of America” and America’s first “poet of democracy”. While controversial for his time, he is now considered one of the most influential of all American poets. It was best put when his British friend Mary Smith Whitall Costelloe, wrote “You cannot really understand America without Walt Whitman, without Leaves of Grass…”
What is the oldest international sporting event in the modern world?
Fifty years prior to the modern day olympics and seven years prior to the Americas Cup, cricket became the first international sporting event in 1844. The United States and Canada took part in the first international cricket match on September 25-27 1844 at the St George’s Cricket Club, Bloomingdale Park in Manhattan, New York. Poor weather extended the match to a third day and was eventually won by Canada with a 23 run lead.
When did the first ball drop in Times Square?
The first Times Square celebration was held in 1904 when the triangular section known as Longacre Square was renamed for The New York Times. There was no ball drop for the 200,000 party goers; there were, however fireworks. It was three years later in 1907 when the first ball dropped down a flagpole at One Times Square. Walter F. Palmer constructed the first ball with iron and wood and added 100 25-watt bulbs. It weighed 700 pounds and measured 5 feet in diameter – substantially more svelte than 2009’s Times Square ball which weighs in at 11,875 pounds and measures 12 feet in diameter.
What is the record single day snowfall in the United States?
The most snowfall in one day happened in 1913, in Georgetown, Colorado when a record 63 inches (5′ 3″) fell in a 24 hour span.