Balloon Ascension Day Jan 9, 2024

Balloon Ascension Day

Up, up, and away! Today is Balloon Ascension Day, celebrating the anniversary of the first manned balloon flight in North America. French aeronaut Jean-Pierre Blanchard"s flight took him from Philadelphia to Deptford, New Jersey, back in 1793. Interest in ballooning took off from there and today, hot air balloon festivals take place across the country, including Albuquerque, where today"s sunrise image was taken. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people attend the nine-day Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta—the largest hot air balloon festival in the world—to see skilled pilots expertly maneuver their baskets through balloon-filled skies.

© Jennifer MacCornack/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Jan 9, 2018Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Jan 9, 2019What, no escalator?
Jan 9, 2020Into the woods
Jan 9, 2021The stylish Spanish shawl
Jan 9, 2022Rice processing in Bangladesh
Jan 9, 2023Wind Cave National Park celebrates 120 years

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 14, 2023Ring of fire solar eclipse
Dec 6, 2023Computer Science Education Week
Sep 27, 2018High seas commerce
May 1, 2021It s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Jun 13, 2022Okavango Delta, Botswana
Jul 28, 2019Road-trip worthy attraction in the heartland
Jun 15, 2018Ready for takeoff
Feb 23, 2019A view from the top
Mar 23, 2021Uncommon clouds are gathering
Mar 26, 2023Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Apr 6, 2019Make way for robots
Jul 19, 2021Wander the ancient medina
Feb 25, 2021Trevi in bloom
May 26, 2022Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica
Mar 30, 2018The Vestibule at Diocletian s Palace, Split, Croatia
Mar 31, 2018Cherry blossoms at the National Mall, Washington, DC
Jun 21, 2022Summer solstice
Feb 11, 2018Te Rewa Rewa Bridge near New Plymouth, New Zealand
Mar 29, 2018It’s Opening Day for Major League Baseball
Jun 9, 2020Gem State views
Nov 5, 2022Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
Feb 8, 2023Uredd Rest Area, Norway
Mar 20, 2022World Frog Day
Dec 31, 2023Happy New Years Eve!
Oct 8, 2022World Octopus Day
Sep 25, 2023Sea Otter Awareness Week
Jun 27, 2018In search of roadside attractions on ‘America’s Highway’
Nov 28, 2023Giving Tuesday
Jul 11, 2020How Quảng Ngãi got its grove back
Apr 4, 2019Taking the forest to the cloud