Guillaume Le Gentil, The 18th Century Astronomer With the Worst Luck

Today in 1769 Captain James Cook and his crew observed the transit of Venus from Tahiti, a big deal for astronomers then; only his French colleague Guillaume Le Gentil had spent years preparing to do the exact same thing, and had much worse luck on his expedition. Plus: for World Bicycle Day, a visit to a giant bicycle sculpture in South Dakota. 

Transit of Venus: a tale of two expeditions (The Conversation)

7 Strange Spots In South Dakota That Will Make You Stop And Look Twice (Only in South Dakota)

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