A0620-00 Black Hole Mass
With Ronald Remillard, measures a mass function for A0620-00 whose compact object exceeds plausible neutron-star masses, strongly implying a black hole.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1986 in United States of America — Page 2
Explore 95 historical events and records for United States of America in 1986.
Historical records for United States of America in 1986
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 95 unique records.
95Unique records
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28Named events on this page
29Named people on this page
7Places on this page
September
A0620-00 Black Hole Mass
With John McClintock, establishes strong dynamical evidence that the compact object in A0620-00 is a stellar-mass black hole.
Death of Cliff Burton
During the European leg of their Damage Inc. tour, Cliff Burton dies near Ljungby, Sweden when Metallicas tour bus skids off an icy road
Metallica
During the European leg of their Damage Inc. tour, Cliff Burton dies near Ljungby, Sweden when Metallicas tour bus skids off an icy road
October
Tax Reform Act
The Act lowers rates, broadens the tax base and removes numerous preferences.
Metallica
Jason Newsted, formerly of Arizonas Flotsam and Jetsam is asked to join, Newsted officially joins Metallica three weeks after Burtons funeral
November
Government
Reagan signs a Bill authorizing penalties for employers who hire illegal aliens
Live 1975-85
Releases Live 1975-85, a large concert box set documenting his stage career.
Government
Admits to the sales of arms to Iran
Scandal
Initiates a review of the Iran Contra Affair on the orders of President Reagan
Crisis
Announces North diverted $30 Iran arms sales to Swiss accounts for Nicaraguan Contras
Scandal
Resigns after the discovery of the diversion of Iran arms sales funds to the Contras
December
Scandal
Refuses to testify before a Senate committee
Other events (month unknown)
Academy Award
Wins best screenplay for "Hannah and Her Sisters"
Academy Award
Wins an Academy Award for best actor for his performance in the 1986 Martin Scorsese film The Color of Money
Academy Award
Winner of the Acadremy Award for Best Director, "Platoon"
Award
Awarded the Medal of Liberty
BAFTA
Wins best screenplay for "The Purple Rose of Cairo ". Wins best best film for "The Purple Rose of Cairo "
Blockade of Gulf of Sirte
US naval forces enter the Gulf of Sirte which Libya had illegally claimed
Blue Velvet
Writes and directs Blue Velvet, exploring violence beneath the surface of a small American town.
Challenger Explosion National Coverage
The destruction of the Challenger space shuttle produced extensive national reporting on NASA and the risks of human spaceflight.
COBE
Smoot leads work on COBE instruments intended to detect tiny anisotropies in the microwave background
Does Humor Belong in Music?
Releases Does Humor Belong in Music?, a live album documenting performances from his 1984 tour.
Emmy Award Family Ties Actor
Michael J Fox received the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for portraying Alex P Keaton on Family Ties.
Government
Provides $300 million for the Afghan Mujahedeen
Gulf of Sirte Naval Pressure Applied
United States warships challenge Libya's claim over the Gulf of Sirte by operating inside the disputed waters.
Hannah and Her Sisters
Writes & stars in, "Hannah and Her Sisters"
Heartbreak Ridge
Directs and stars in Heartbreak Ridge as a veteran Marine sergeant.
Jazz from Hell
Releases Jazz from Hell, a largely instrumental album centered on Synclavier composition and guitar performance.
Joe Turners Come and Gone Premiere
August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone was first performed at Yale Repertory Theatre, portraying the search for belonging after emancipation.
Joint Chiefs of Staff
While an international affairs fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations, Rice serves as Special Assistant to the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Live: 1975-1985
Releases "Live: 1975-1985", No 1 US Album
Metallica
When Ride the Lightning caught the attention of major labels, Metallica sign with Elektra Records, their first release with Elektra is Master of Puppets, which serves as their breakthrough album. ..And Justice for All, the first studio album since Burtons death, was released, the album was a massive commercial success, reaching number 6 on The Billboard 200, their first album to reach the top 10
Metallica
When Ride the Lightning caught the attention of major labels, Metallica sign with Elektra Records, their first release with Elektra is Master of Puppets, which serves as their breakthrough album
Metallica
Founder Member of Metallica, bassist
Metallica
When Ride the Lightning caught the attention of major labels, Metallica sign with Elektra Records, their first release with Elektra is Master of Puppets, which serves as their breakthrough album
Moody Blues
Produces two full albums for the Moody Blues, The Other Side of Life (1986), and Sur La Mer (1988)
Murphys Law
Stars in, "Murphys Law"
Neptune Ring Arc Publication
Hubbard and colleagues publish the ground-based detection of a Neptunian ring-like arc.
No Laughing Matter
Publication of "No Laughing Matter"
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.