Life Timeline

For those born June 28, 1959.

Not your birthday? Find your timeline here.

1958
Before you were born

You're one of the first people who's never lived in a world without NASA.

In March 2015, Cari Romm wrote about the technological impact of NASA on everyday life.

1959
Year 63

You were born in June of 1959. This year, The Atlantic celebrates its 160th birthday, making it 3 times as old as you.

The year you were born, Grover Loening wrote about the history of the development of American planes, and what can be learned from the missed opportunties of the past.

1959
Beginnings

Around the time you were born, Hawaii voted to join the United States.

In September 2016, Brittany Lyte wrote about native Hawaiians' claims to land trusts.

1969

NASA

Man on the Moon

At 10 years old, you were alive to behold people walking on the moon.

Over the years, the moon landing has come to be lauded as the pinnacle of human achievement, although it was often derided at the time. In 1963, NASA astronauts took to The Atlantic to plead the case for landing on the moon.

1972

Bettmann / Getty

The teenage years

This is what Hollywood thought teenagers looked like the year you became one.

The Brady Bunch premiered in 1972.

1977
Coming of age

Around your 18th birthday, Elvis Presley held the last performance of his career in Indianapolis.

In January 2015, Adrienne LaFrance wrote about America's continuing obsession with Elvis Presley.

1979

Danny Moloshok / Reuters

Contemporaries

In 1979, Magic Johnson, who was born the same year as you, was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers.

In May 2012, Jason Parham wrote about how L.A. basketball teams continued to play during the upheaval caused by the 1992 riots.

1987
Half a life ago

Your life can be divided into two halves: before and after The Simpsons.

In February 2012, Hampton Stevens wrote about what The Simpsons had left to say after airing its 500th episode.

2007

NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute

Across the Universe

When you turned 48, you watched humankind reach the outer solar system.

With NASA's Cassini-Huygens mission in 2005, humans landed a probe in the outer reaches of the solar system for the first time, a moment Ross Andersen called the most glorious mission in the history of planetary science.

2021
Forecasts

By the time you turn 61, scientists estimate it will no longer be possible to keep global temperatures from rising at least 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In December 2015, Robinson Meyer wrote about why scientists had accepted this fact.

Today
History in the making

History is happening all around you, every day.

The Atlantic is here to help you process it, in stories like these: