Today is the 205th day of 2016 and the 34th day of summer.
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TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1962, the Telstar 1 satellite transmitted the first live, trans-Atlantic TV broadcast, featuring CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite.
In 1967, the 12th Street Riots began in Detroit, ending five days later and resulting in 43 people dead, hundreds injured and more than 1,400 buildings burned to the ground.
In 1999, with the launch of Columbia, Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a U.S. space shuttle flight.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAY: Emil Jannings (1884-1950), actor; Raymond Chandler (1888-1959), author; Anthony M. Kennedy (1936- ), Supreme Court justice; Don Imus (1940- ), radio personality; Woody Harrelson (1961- ), actor; Slash (1965- ), guitarist/songwriter; Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014), actor; Alison Krauss (1971- ), musician/singer-songwriter; Marlon Wayans (1972- ), actor; Daniel Radcliffe (1989- ), actor.
TODAY'S FACT: Comet Hale-Bopp, discovered on this day in 1995, was visible to the naked eye for a record 18 months, from May 1996 to December 1997. The previous record holder, the Great Comet of 1811, was visible for about nine months.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1996, injured American gymnast Kerri Strug scored a 9.7 on the vault as the U.S. won its first-ever Olympic gold medal in the women's team gymnastics competition.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "The girl gave him a look which ought to have stuck at least four inches out of his back." -- Raymond Chandler, "The Long Goodbye"
TODAY'S NUMBER: 27 -- Grammy Awards won by bluegrass musician Alison Krauss during her career (including five awards for a 2007 collaboration with Robert Plant), more than any other female artist.
TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (July 19) and last quarter moon (July 26).