Plenty of Nothing

Gemini XI

Gemini XI launches, September 12, 1966. In the background stands a Saturn V on launch pad 39A, although Apollo 4, the first Saturn V flight, did not happen until fourteen months later. Source.

The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse

Source.

Shoemaker-Levy 9

Fragments of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 began to impact Jupiter on July 16th, 1994. Source.

The Bloody Creek Crater

The Bloody Creek Crater is located about five miles south of Bridgetown, Annapolis County, within what is now Dalhousie Lake. Source.

Solar Eclipse, New Brunswick

Then you flew your Lear Jet up to Oromocto to watch the total eclipse of the sun. Source.

Roberta Bondar Schools

Dr. Roberta L. Bondar Elementary School, Abbotsford. Source.

Dr. Roberta Bondar School, Calgary. Source.

Roberta Bondar Public School, Brampton. Source.

Dr. Roberta Bondar Public School, Vaughan. Source.

Roberta Bondar Public School, Ottawa. Source.

Observational Greenock

There was an observatory in the west end of Greenock a couple of hundred years ago. Source. See also.

It's the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. Morton are at home to Heart of Midlothian. This is a Monday-nighter for BBC Scotland.

Morton are the only Championship side remaining in this year's Cup. Last year's last Championship team standing was Inverness CT who made it into the final. If Morton win today they'll advance to the semi-finals for the first time since 1981.

Morton and Hearts last met on April 20th, 2021 in the 2020-21 Championship, when they played to a scoreless draw. Their last Scottish Cup game was on February 20th, 1988. Hearts won. Morton's last win against Hearts came on August 18th, 1984 in the 1984-85 Premier Division. Morton's last win against Hearts in the Scottish Cup came on January 28th, 1981 in a Round Three replay. That was the only time Morton have knocked Hearts out of the Scottish Cup. Hearts have knocked Morton out seven times, beginning in 1890, when they went on to win the Cup (see below).

Morton have won the Scottish Cup once and been knocked out 130 times: 43 times at Cappielow, 81 times at the opponent's ground, and 6 times at a neutral venue. You can see the statistical advantage of home ground. By the luck of the draw Morton have played every 2023-24 Scottish Cup match at Cappielow.

Hearts' top scorer Lawrence Shankland made 16 appearances for Morton in 2017. Winger Barry McKay played for Morton in 2013-14. Hearts have two Japanese players on their roster, and four Australians. Robbie Muirhead played for Hearts in 2016-17.

Shankland has 20 goals in league play this season.

Morton are three games without a win. But Dougie Imrie is Championship Manager of the Month for February.

The last Morton player to score on Hearts was Craig McGuffie on February 20th, 2021.

Do referees favour winning teams? So far this season Morton have received 2.78 yellow cards in matches they have won, and 3.23 in matches they have lost.

[Morton 0 - 1 Hearts.]

The other Scottish Cup fixtures:

Aberdeen 3 - 1 Kilmarnock (March 9)

Celtic 4 - 2 Livingston (March 10)    Hat trick for Maeda.

Hibs 0 - 2 Rangers (March 10)

Championship matches (March 9):

Dundee United (1st) 4 - 0 Arbroath (10th)

Inverness CT (9th) 0 - 0 Airdrieonians (5th)

Queen's Park (8th) 2 - 2 Partick Thistle (3rd)

Raith Rovers (2nd) 2 - 0 Dunfermline (6th)

This is their sixth meeting this season. In 2022-23 they didn't meet at all.

2023-24 UEFA Europa League, group of 16, first leg (March 7):

Benfica 2 - 2 Rangers

Other matches (mostly March 9):

UCD 1 - 2 Wexford (March 8)

Fraserburgh 2 - 1 Banks o' Dee

Cumnock Juniors 1 - 1 Largs Thistle

East Craigie 2 - 5 Carnoustie Panmure

Cumbernauld Colts 1 - 1 Linlithgow Rose

FC Isle of Man 3 - 2 Longridge Town

Carrick Rangers 0 - 1 Newry City

Newtown 2 - 0 Cardiff MU

Morton Women 0 - 0 Dryburgh (March 10)

Vegalta Sendai 1 - 0 Mito HollyHock (March 10)

The Japan Football League begins tomorrow. Suzuka Point Getters have changed their name to Atletico Suzuka. Tokyo Musashino United have changed their name back to Yokogawa Musashino. Let's follow our old pals ReinMeer Aomori.

Minebea Mitsumi 1 - 1 ReinMeer Aomori (March 10)

Minebea are the former Honda Lock.

Icelandic Women's League Cup group stage, matchday 4 (March 9):

FH 1 - 2 Þór/KA

2023-24 Women's Scottish Cup, QF (March 10):

Hibs 2 - 6 Rangers

Montrose 0 - 6 Celtic

Partick Thistle 0 - 1 Hearts

Livingston 0 - 5 Spartans

Which clubs had to get past Morton on the way to winning the Scottish Cup?

2022-23    Celtic

2017-18    Celtic

1999-00    Rangers

1996-97    Kilmarnock

1990-91    Motherwell

1989-90    Aberdeen

1986-87    St Mirren

1980-81    Rangers

1979-80    Celtic

1968-69    Celtic

1952-53    Rangers

1947-48    Rangers

1946-47    Aberdeen

1930-31    Celtic

1923-24    Airdrieonians

1919-20    Kilmarnock

1912-13    Falkirk

1906-07    Celtic

1896-97    Rangers

1890-91    Hearts

Historical matches:

1883/3/10       Morton 5 - 1 Kilbarchan

1945/3/10      Airdrieonians 0 - 3 Morton

This was Southern League Cup group stage matchday 3.

1968/3/6        St Johnstone 1 - 2 Morton

1968/3/9        Morton 2 - 1 Elgin City    Scottish Cup R3

1996/3/9        Morton 4 - 1 Hamilton Academical

Goals by Douglas Johnstone, Derek Laing, Peter Cormack and Marko Rajamaki.

Raith Rovers versus Dunfermline Athletic During WWII:

1939/10/14    Raith Rovers 2 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic     FCup SF

1939/12/30    Raith Rovers 0 - 3 Dunfermline Athletic    SELNE

1940/3/30      Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 4 Raith Rovers     SELNE

1941/9/6        Dunfermline Athletic 4 - 4 Raith Rovers       NELs1

1941/10/4      Raith Rovers 3 - 4 Dunfermline Athletic    NELs1

1942/1/3        Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 2 Raith Rovers    NELs2

1942/4/25      Raith Rovers 4 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs2

1942/9/19      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 1 Raith Rovers    NELs1

1942/10/31    Raith Rovers 1 - 4 Dunfermline Athletic    NEL s1

1943/1/16      Raith Rovers 5 - 3 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs2

1943/2/13      Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 0 Raith Rovers    NELs2

1943/9/25      Raith Rovers 4 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs1

1943/10/9      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 1 Raith Rovers    NELs1

1944/1/15      Raith Rovers 1 - 4 Dunfermline Athletic    NELs2

1944/2/12      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 1 Raith Rovers       NELs2

1944/8/19      Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 2 Raith Rovers    NELs1

1944/11/4      Raith Rovers 3 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs1

1945/1/6        Raith Rovers 5 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs2

1945/3/10      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 2 Raith Rovers       NELs2

FCup = Fife Cup; NELs1 = North Eastern League, first series; NELs2 = North Eastern League, second series; SELNE = Scottish Emergency League North and East Division

(Source: Scottish Football Historical Archive)

Arthurlie FC 1900-01:

1901/5/11      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Johnstone    SCom

1901/5/4        Albion Rovers 0 - 2 Arthurlie    SCom

1901/4/27      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Wishaw United    SCom

1901/4/20      Arthurlie 5 - 0 Royal Albert    SCom

1901/3/23      Wishaw United 3 - 2 Arthurlie    SCom

1901/3/16      Arthurlie 1 - 2 St Mirren    RCup R2

1901/3/9        Arthurlie 1 - 1 St Mirren 'A'    SCom

1901/3/2        bye    RCup R1

1901/2/23      Kilbarchan 0 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1901/2/16      Johnstone 4 - 2 Arthurlie    SCom

1901/2/9        Arthurlie 2 - 0 Third Lanark 'A'    SCom

1901/1/19      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Queen's Park Strollers    SCom

1901/1/12      Dundee 3 - 1 Arthurlie    SCup R1

1901/1/5        Arthurlie 2 - 1 Kilbarchan    SCom

1900/12/29    St Mirren 'A' 4 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/12/22    Queen's Park Strollers 3 - 5 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/12/15    Third Lanark 'A' 0 - 1 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/12/1      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Johnstone    RVCup F leg two replay

1900/11/24    Arthurlie 2 - 2 Johnstone (protested)    RVCup F leg two

1900/11/10    Johnstone 5 - 2 Arthurlie    RVCup F leg one

1900/11/3      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Thornliebank    RVCup SF tiebreaker

1900/10/27    Thornliebank 2 - 1 Arthurlie    RVCup SF leg two

1900/10/20?    Arthurlie 1 - 0 Thornliebank    RVCup SF leg one

1900/10/20?    Arthurlie 1 - 2 Dumbarton    QCup R4

1900/10/6      bye    QCup R3

1900/9/29      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Albion Rovers    SCom

1900/9/22      Arthurlie 6 - 1 Johnstone    QCup R2

1900/9/15      Royal Albert 0 - 2 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/9/15      bye    RVCup R1

1900/9/8        Arthurlie 5 - 3 Neilston    QCup R1

1900/9/1        Thornliebank 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/8/25      Raith Rovers 4 - 2 Arthurlie

1900/8/18      Arthurlie 3 - 0 Thornliebank    SCom

(Source: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Scottish Combination, the Renfrewshire Cup and the Renfrewshire Victoria Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup and the Scottish Cup; the Glasgow Herald for 1900/8/25)

Solar Storm 1872

Japanese people marvel at the Northern Lights during the geomagnetic storm of February 4, 1872. Source.

Spirit

Spirit Mars Rover, 2006. Source.

NASA's rover Spirit landed on Mars twenty years ago today, and since then there has been at least one rover active on Mars at all times.

Spirit                     active 2004/1/4 to 2010/3/22

Opportunity           active 2004/1/25 to 2018/6/10

Phoenix (lander)   active 2008/5/28 to 2008/11/2

Curiosity                active 2012/8/6 (ongoing)

Insight (lander)      active 2018/11/26 to 2022/12/21

Perseverence        active 2021/2/18 (ongoing)

Zhurong                 active 2021/5/14 to 2022/5/20

Giuseppe Piazzi

On this date in 1801 Giuseppe Piazza first observed the minor planet Ceres. Source.