Each day we feature a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Discovery was named for a ship commanded by Captain James Cook RN , the 18th Century English astronomer and navigator. Cook 's voyages of discovery established new standards in scientific exploration and brought extensive knowledge of the unknown Pacific regions, including Australia, New Zealand, and the Hawaiian Island archipelago to Europeans. Also named after one of Cook's ships, Endeavor is the latest addition to the shuttle fleet .
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