Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 July 30

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Today's featured article
Aries is one of the constellations of the zodiac, located between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east. Its name is Latin for ram, and its symbol is (Unicode ♈), representing a ram's horns. One of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, Aries remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. A mid-sized constellation, it is ranked 39th overall with an area of 441 square degrees (1.1% of the celestial sphere). Though it specifically came to represent the ram whose fleece became the Golden Fleece in Ancient Greece, it had represented a ram since late Babylonian times. Before that, the stars of Aries formed a farmhand. Because Aries is zodiacal, its stars were incorporated into different constellations in different cultures, including twin inspectors in China and a porpoise in the Marshall Islands. Aries is a relatively dim constellation, possessing only three bright stars: Hamal (Alpha Arietis, second magnitude), Sheratan (Beta Arietis, third magnitude), and Mesartim (Gamma Arietis, fourth magnitude). The few deep-sky objects are quite faint and include several pairs of interacting galaxies. Several meteor showers radiate from Aries, including the Daytime Arietids and the Epsilon Arietids. (more...) Recently featured: Jovan Vladimir – Hurricane Vince – Nick Adenhart Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that ichirizuka (pictured in a woodblock print by Hiroshige) marked the distance to Nihonbashi in Edo? ... that projects of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities include the Monumenta Germaniae Historica, classical inscriptions (IG, CIL), and dictionaries of Ancient Egyptian and German? ... that 2012 Olympic lightweight double sculls rower Bronwen Watson retired from rowing twice? ... that the Charolais horse was one of the types used to create the Selle Français, a successful sport horse breed? ... that a University of Michigan gymnast dubbed the "Golden Syque" won the first gold medal in international competition for Bangladesh and was chosen to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London? ... that although fishing for stocked trout is allowed in Oregon's Antelope Reservoir, eating the catch is not advisable? ... that "Survival", a single by the English rock band Muse, is the official song of the 2012 Summer Olympics? ... that Norman Sas invented electric football? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony Fighting intensifies in Aleppo, Syria, as the Syrian Armed Forces launch an attack to regain control of the city. The Opening Ceremony (pictured) of the Summer Olympics is held in London. At least 58 people are killed and 200,000 displaced in ethnic violence between Bodos and immigrant Muslims in Assam, India. At least 42 people are killed in clashes between rebels and Tajik government troops in Gorno-Badakhshan. Ghanaian President John Atta Mills dies at the age of 68 and is succeeded by Vice President John Dramani Mahama. Olympic summary – Wikinews – Recent deaths More current events...
On this day...
July 30: Independence Day in Vanuatu (1980) 762 – Al-Mansur, the Caliph of Islam, founded the city of Baghdad to be the capital of the Islamic empire under the Abbasids. 1619 – The first representative assembly in the Americas, Virginia's House of Burgesses, convened for the first time. 1811 – Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, an early leader of the Mexican War of Independence, was executed by Spanish authorities. 1912 – Japan's Emperor Meiji died and was succeeded by his son Yoshihito, who is now known as the Emperor Taishō (pictured). 1975 – American labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa mysteriously disappeared after last being seen outside a restaurant near Detroit. 2006 – Lebanon War: The Israeli Air Force attacked a three-story building near the South Lebanese village of Qana, killing at least 28 civilians, including 16 children. More anniversaries: July 29 – July 30 – July 31 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now July 30, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured list

Arnold Schwarzenegger wearing a blue suit and standing at a podium

Arnold Schwarzenegger's acting career began primarily with small roles in film and television. Since then, he has appeared mainly in science fiction, action, and comedy films. In addition to films and television, he has appeared in music videos for AC/DC, Bon Jovi, and Guns N' Roses. Schwarzenegger has been a primary character in two film franchises: as Conan in the Conan series and as The Terminator in the Terminator series. Other roles include Ben Richards in The Running Man, Douglas Quaid in Total Recall, Jack Slater in Last Action Hero, Major Alan "Dutch" Schaeffer in Predator, and Harry Tasker in True Lies. In Stay Hungry, one of his first roles, he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture. He has also been nominated for various awards for his work in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Junior, and True Lies. (more...)

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Today's featured picture

The Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) is a small, tube-building marine polychaete worm. Both its common and Latin names refer to the two spiral structures, the most common feature seen by divers, which resemble Christmas trees. These are specialized mouth appendages which trap prey microorganisms and also act as respiratory structures.

Photo: Nick Hobgood

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