The Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911–1914), headed by Douglas Mawson, explored the largely uncharted coast of Antarctica due south of Australia. Mawson was inspired to lead his own venture by his experiences on Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod expedition in 1907–1909. During its time in Antarctica, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition's sledging parties covered around 2,600 miles (4,180 km) of unexplored territory. Its ship, SY Aurora (pictured), navigated 1,800 miles (2,900 km) of unmapped coastline. Scientific activities included meteorological measurements, magnetic observations, an expansive oceanographic program, and the collection of many biological and geological samples, including the discovery of the first meteorite found in Antarctica. The expedition was the first to establish and maintain wireless contact between Antarctica and Australia. Its broad exploration program laid the groundwork for Australia's later territorial claims in Antarctica.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_Antarctic_Expedition

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1799:

War of the Second Coalition: Austrian forces defeated troops of the French Army of the Danube, capturing the strategically important Swiss town of Winterthur. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Winterthur

1917:

Pope Benedict XV promulgated the Pio-Benedictine Code, the first official comprehensive codification of Latin canon law. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1917_Code_of_Canon_Law

1940:

World War II: Ninety-seven soldiers of the British Royal Norfolk Regiment were executed after surrendering to German forces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Paradis_massacre

1995:

American actor Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse, leaving him quadriplegic; he later became an activist on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Reeve

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

gouge: 1. (transitive) To make a groove, hole, or mark in by scooping with or as if with a gouge. 2. (transitive) To cheat or impose upon; in particular, to charge an unfairly or unreasonably high price. 3. (transitive, intransitive) To dig or scoop (something) out with or as if with a gouge; in particular, to use a thumb to push or try to push the eye (of a person) out of its socket. 4. (intransitive) To use a gouge. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gouge

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

There are certain injustices in this life you’ve got to do something about. You can’t just say that you can’t fight it, or it’s too much trouble, or that you don’t have the time or the effort, or that you can’t win. Forget all that. Fight them all!   --Harlan Ellison https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Harlan_Ellison