August 17
August 17 is the 230th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 136 days remain until the year's end. It falls in summer (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Leo.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On August 17 the Sun's declination is approximately +12.8°. 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 August 17.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christian feast day: Saint Beatrice of Silva
- Christian feast day: Saint Clare of Montefalco
- Christian feast day: Saint Hyacinth of Poland
- Christian feast day: Saint Jeanne Delanoue
- Christian feast day: Saint Mammes of Caesarea
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
- 2019 — A bomb explodes at a wedding in Kabul killing 63 people and leaving 182 injured. ↗(7 years ago)
more
On 17 August 2019, a suicide bombing took place during a wedding in a wedding hall in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 92 people were killed in the attack and over 140 injured. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for the bombing, stating that the attack targeted the Shi'ites.
2017 — Barcelona attacks: A van is driven into pedestrians in La Rambla, killing 14 and injuring at least 100. ↗(9 years ago)more
On the afternoon of 17 August 2017, 22-year-old Younes Abouyaaqoub drove a van into pedestrians on La Rambla street in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, killing 13 people and injuring at least 130 others, one of whom died 10 days later on 27 August.
2015 — A bomb explodes near the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, killing at least 19 people and injuring 123 others. ↗(11 years ago)more
On 17 August 2015, a bombing took place inside the Erawan Shrine at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, Thailand, killing 20 people and injuring 125. Thai police were reported to have arrested two suspects, the second of whom confessed to having been the bomber. He later retracted his confession.
2009 — An accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam in Khakassia, Russia, kills 75 and shuts down the hydroelectric power station, leading to widespread power failure in the local area. ↗(17 years ago)more
On 17 August 2009, a turbine in the hydroelectric power station of the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam near Sayanogorsk in Russia failed catastrophically, killing 75 people and severely damaging the plant. The turbine hall was flooded, and a section of its roof collapsed. All but one of the ten turbines in the hall were destroyed or damaged.
2008 — American swimmer Michael Phelps becomes the first person to win eight gold medals at one Olympic Games. ↗(18 years ago)more
Michael Fred Phelps II is an American former competitive swimmer. He won more Olympic medals than any other athlete, a total of 28 medals across four Olympic Games. Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals (23), Olympic gold medals in individual events (13), and Olympic medals in individual events (16).
2005 — The first forced evacuation of settlers, as part of Israeli disengagement from Gaza, starts. ↗(21 years ago)more
Israeli settlements, also called Israeli colonies, are the civilian communities built by Israel throughout the Israeli-occupied territories. They are populated by Israeli citizens, almost exclusively of Jewish identity or ethnicity, and have been constructed on lands that Israel has militarily occupied since the Six-Day War in 1967.
2005 — Over 500 bombs are set off by terrorists at 300 locations in 63 out of the 64 districts of Bangladesh. ↗(21 years ago)more
On 17 August 2005, around 500 bomb explosions occurred at 300 locations in 63 of the 64 districts of Bangladesh. The bombs exploded within a half-hour period, starting at 11:00 am. A terrorist organization, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), claimed responsibility for the bombings. The group was led by Shaykh Abdur Rahman and Siddique ul-Islam.
2004 — The National Assembly of Serbia unanimously adopts new state symbols for Serbia: Bože pravde becomes the new anthem and the coat of arms is adopted for the whole country. ↗(22 years ago)more
The National Assembly, Parliament, or Skupština, formally the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, is the unicameral legislature of Serbia. The assembly is composed of 250 deputies who are proportionally elected to four-year terms on the basis of direct, universal, and equal suffrage by secret ballot.
1999 — The 7.6 Mw İzmit earthquake shakes northwestern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving 17,118–17,127 dead and 43,953–50,000 injured. ↗(27 years ago)more
An earthquake of moment magnitude 7.6 struck Kocaeli Province, Turkey on 17 August 1999. According to official figures, at least 18,373 people died and 48,901 people were injured during the earthquake, and 5,840 people were missing. At least 155 deaths were associated with the tsunami.
1998 — Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an 'improper physical relationship' with White House intern Monica Lewinsky; later that same day he admits before the nation that he 'misled people' about the relationship. ↗(28 years ago)more
A sex scandal involving Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, and Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern, erupted in 1998. Their sexual relationship began in 1995—when Clinton was 49 years old and Lewinsky was 22 years old—and lasted 18 months, ending in 1997.
1991 — Strathfield massacre: In Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, taxi driver Wade Frankum shoots and kills seven people and injures six others before turning the gun on himself. ↗(35 years ago)more
The Strathfield massacre was a shooting rampage at Strathfield Plaza in Strathfield, Sydney, Australia, on 17 August 1991. The shooter was Wade Frankum, who killed himself as police arrived at the scene. The incident left eight dead including the gunman and six wounded.
1988 — President of Pakistan Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and U.S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel are killed in a plane crash. ↗(38 years ago)more
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was a Pakistani military officer and politician who served as the sixth president of Pakistan from 1978 until his death in an airplane crash in 1988. He also served as the second chief of the army staff of the Pakistan Army from 1976 until his death.
Notable births
2003 — The Kid Laroi, Australian rapper and songwriter ↗(23 years ago)more
Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard, known professionally as the Kid Laroi, is an Australian singer, rapper, and songwriter. He was signed with American rapper Lil Bibby's Grade A Productions, in a joint venture with Columbia Records, in 2019.
2000 — Lil Pump, American rapper and songwriter ↗(26 years ago)more
Gazzy Fabio Garcia, known professionally as Lil Pump, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as part of the SoundCloud rap scene in the late 2010s, gaining distinction for his minimalist music and rambunctious public persona.
1998 — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Japanese baseball player ↗(28 years ago)more
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes, where he became one of the most decorated pitchers in league history.
1996 — Jake Virtanen, Canadian ice hockey player ↗(30 years ago)more
Jacob Virtanen is a Finnish-Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for HK Dukla Michalovce of the Slovak Extraliga. Virtanen was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks sixth overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft and played for the NHL team from 2015 to 2021.
1995 — Gracie Gold, American figure skater ↗(31 years ago)more
Grace Elizabeth Gold is an American figure skater. She is a 2014 Olympic bronze medalist in the team event, a six-time Grand Prix medalist, and a two-time U.S. national champion. She placed 4th at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. At the junior level, Gold is the 2012 World Junior silver medalist, the 2011 JGP Estonia champion, and the 2012 U.S.
Notable deaths
2025 — Terence Stamp, English actor (born 1938) ↗(1 years ago)more
Terence Henry Stamp was a British actor. His filmography included a mix of cult and mainstream performances, particularly sophisticated villain roles. He received various accolades including a Golden Globe Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award and two BAFTA Awards.
2024 — Virginia Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie, British countess (born 1933) ↗(2 years ago)more
Virginia Fortune Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie, was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II. She was born in London to an American family, and grew up in the United States before returning to the United Kingdom. In 1973, she became the first American to be a lady-in-waiting.
2024 — Silvio Santos, Brazilian media mogul and television host (born 1930) ↗(2 years ago)more
Senor Abravanel, known professionally as Silvio Santos, was a Brazilian television presenter and business magnate. Widely regarded as the greatest personality in Brazilian television, he was the founder of the television network Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (SBT) and the conglomerate Grupo Silvio Santos, which holds interests in media and real estate a...
2016 — Arthur Hiller, Canadian actor, director, and producer (born 1923) ↗(10 years ago)more
Arthur Hiller, was a Canadian film and television director. He directed over 33 feature films during a 50-year career. He began his career directing television in Canada and later in the U.S. By the late 1950s, he was directing films, most often comedies, but also dramas and romantic subjects, such as in Love Story (1970), which was nominated for seven Ac...
2015 — Yvonne Craig, American ballet dancer and actress (born 1937) ↗(11 years ago)more
Yvonne Joyce Craig was an American actress best known for her role as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in the 1960s television series Batman. Other notable roles in her career include Dorothy Johnson in the 1963 movie It Happened at the World's Fair, Azalea Tatum in the 1964 movie Kissin' Cousins, and the green-skinned Orion Marta in the Star Trek episode "Whom God...
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (230) | 2 × 5 × 23 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (136) | 2^3 × 17 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 17082026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +12.78° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 58 days |