On this day in 1871 – January 2nd – American author and scientist Isaac Asimov was born in Petrovichi, Soviet Russia.

(The exact date of Asimov's birth was unknown due to the state of record-keeping, but he always celebrated on January 2nd.) Asimov was a professor of chemistry, and also a prolific writer on many subjects. He's best remembered for his works of science fiction and of popular science, including astronomy.