April 24
April 24 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 251 days remain until the year's end. It falls in spring (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Taurus.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On April 24 the Sun's declination is approximately +12.9°. At this latitude the Sun is north of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere longer days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a April 24.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
No widely-observed holidays catalogued for this day in our base set. See the external almanacs above for region-specific observances.
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1184 — BCE — traditional date of the fall of Troy (Eratosthenes). ↗(842 years ago)more
The Trojan War was a legendary conflict in Greek mythology that took place around the twelfth or thirteenth century BC. The war was waged by the Achaeans (Greeks) against the city of Troy after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta.
1800 — The Library of Congress was established with a $5,000 appropriation. ↗(226 years ago)more
The Library of Congress is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the de facto national library of the United States. It also administers copyright law through the United States Copyright Office, and it houses the Congressional Research Service.
1915 — The Armenian Genocide began with the arrest of Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople. ↗(111 years ago)more
The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was implemented primarily through the mass murder of around one million Armenians during death marches to the Syrian desert and the forced Islamization of oth...
1990 — The Hubble Space Telescope was launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31). ↗(36 years ago)more
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It was not the first space telescope, but it is one of the largest and most versatile, renowned as a vital research tool and as a public relations boon for astronomy.
Notable births
1815 — Anthony Trollope, English novelist. ↗(211 years ago)more
Anthony Trollope was an English novelist and civil servant of the Victorian era. Among the best-known of his 47 novels are two series of six novels each collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire and the Palliser novels, as well as The Way We Live Now. His novels address political, social, and gender issues and other topical matters.
1942 — Barbra Streisand, American singer and actress. ↗(84 years ago)more
Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand is an American singer, actress, songwriter, and filmmaker. Over a career spanning more than six decades, Streisand's success in the entertainment industry has included Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.
Notable deaths
1731 — Daniel Defoe, English novelist (Robinson Crusoe). ↗(295 years ago)more
Daniel Defoe was an English writer, journalist, merchant and spy. He is famous for his novels Robinson Crusoe (1719), Moll Flanders (1722) and Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress (1724). He has been seen as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel, and helped to popularise the form in Britain with others such as Aphra Behn and Samuel Richardson.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (115) | 5 × 23 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (251) | 251 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 24042026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +12.95° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 57 days |