This is an international outreach event where your local Astronomy club should be set out with telescopes to look at the moon and Jupiter. Hunt them down and take a look if the weather is cooperating.
Today is also the anniversary of the beginning of the Space Shuttle Flights
Gagarin got to space but not to orbit, though. First human to orbit was John Glenn, in February 1962.
edit : Correction! Gagarin DID orbit the Earth, one time. Maybe not technically "in orbit" but close enough for me. Glenn is the first American to orbit the Earth (three times).