August 30
August 30 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 123 days remain until the year's end. It falls in summer (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Virgo.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On August 30 the Sun's declination is approximately +8.1°. 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 30.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christian feast day: Alexander of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodoxy)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster
- Christian feast day: Blessed Eustáquio van Lieshout
- Christian feast day: Blessed Stephen Nehmé (Maronite Church / Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: Charles Chapman Grafton (Episcopal Church)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2023 — Gabonese coup d'état: After Ali Bongo Ondimba's reelection, a military coup ousted him, ending 56 years of Bongo family rule in Gabon. ↗(3 years ago)more
On 30 August 2023, a coup d'état occurred in Gabon shortly after the announcement that incumbent president Ali Bongo had won the general election held on 26 August. It was the eighth successful coup to occur in West and Central Africa since 2020.
2021 — The last remaining American troops leave Afghanistan, ending U.S. involvement in the war. ↗(5 years ago)more
The United States Armed Forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on 30 August 2021, marking the end of the 2001–2021 war. In February 2020, the first Trump administration and the Taliban signed the United States–Taliban deal in Doha, Qatar, which stipulated fighting restrictions for both the US and the Taliban, and in return for the Taliban's co...
2014 — Prime Minister of Lesotho Tom Thabane flees to South Africa as the army allegedly stages a coup. ↗(12 years ago)more
Thomas Motsoahae Thabane is a Mosotho politician who was the fifth Prime Minister of Lesotho from 2012 to 2015 and from 2017 to 2020. He founded the All Basotho Convention (ABC) in 2006 and led the party until 2022.
2008 — A Conviasa Boeing 737 crashes into Illiniza Volcano in Ecuador, killing all three people on board. ↗(18 years ago)more
Línea Aérea Conviasa is the flag carrier of Venezuela, with its headquarters on the grounds of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, near Caracas. It is the flag carrier and largest airline of Venezuela, operating services to domestic destinations and destinations in the Caribbean and South America.
2002 — Rico Linhas Aéreas Flight 4823 crashes on approach to Rio Branco International Airport, killing 23 of the 31 people on board. ↗(24 years ago)more
Rico Linhas Aéreas Flight 4823 was a short haul domestic Brazilian flight from Cruzeiro do Sul and Tarauacá to Rio Branco. On 30 August 2002, the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, registration PT-WRQ, flying the route crashed in heavy rain. Of the 31 aboard, 23 were killed, including all three crew members, and 20 of the 28 passengers.
1998 — Second Congo War: Armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and their Angolan and Zimbabwean allies recapture Matadi and the Inga dams in the western DRC from RCD and Rwandan troops. ↗(28 years ago)more
The Second Congo War, also known as Africa's World War or the Great War of Africa, was a major conflict that began on 2 August 1998, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, just over a year after the First Congo War.
1995 — Bosnian War: NATO launches Operation Deliberate Force against Bosnian Serb forces. ↗(31 years ago)more
The Bosnian War was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Following several earlier violent incidents, the war is commonly seen as having started on 6 April 1992 when the newly independent Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was internationally recognized.
1992 — The 11-day Ruby Ridge standoff ends with Randy Weaver surrendering to federal authorities. ↗(34 years ago)more
The Ruby Ridge standoff was the siege of the Weaver family home in Boundary County, Idaho, in August 1992. On August 21, deputies of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) came to arrest Randy Weaver under a bench warrant for his failure to appear on federal firearms charges after he was given the wrong court date.
1991 — Dissolution of the Soviet Union: Azerbaijan declares independence from Soviet Union. ↗(35 years ago)more
The Soviet Union was formally dissolved as a sovereign state and subject of international law on 26 December 1991 by Declaration No. 142-N of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union.
1984 — STS-41-D: The Space Shuttle Discovery takes off on its maiden voyage. ↗(42 years ago)more
STS-41-D was the 12th flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the maiden flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. It was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 30, 1984, and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on September 5, 1984.
1983 — Aeroflot Flight 5463 crashes into Dolan Mountain while approaching Almaty International Airport in present-day Kazakhstan, killing all 90 people on board. ↗(43 years ago)more
Aeroflot Flight 5463 was a Soviet domestic passenger flight from Chelyabinsk to Almaty which crashed on 30 August 1983 while approaching Almaty. The Tupolev Tu-134A collided with the western slope of Dolan Mountain at an altitude of 690 m (2,260 ft). As a result of the accident, all ninety people on board were killed.
1983 — STS-8: The Space Shuttle Challenger takes off on the first night launch of the shuttle program. Guion Bluford becomes the first African-American in space on this mission. ↗(43 years ago)more
STS-8 was the eighth NASA Space Shuttle mission and the third flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger. It launched on August 30, 1983, and landed on September 5, 1983, conducting the first night launch and night landing of the Space Shuttle program. It also carried the first African-American astronaut to go into space, Guion Bluford.
Notable births
2002 — Fábio Carvalho, Portuguese footballer ↗(24 years ago)more
Fábio Leandro Freitas Gouveia Carvalho is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left winger or attacking midfielder for Premier League club Brentford. A former youth international for England, Carvalho now represents Portugal internationally at under-21 level.
2002 — Drake Maye, American football player ↗(24 years ago)more
Drake Lee Maye is an American professional football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, winning the Shaun Alexander Award and ACC Football Player of the Year in 2022 after leading the NCAA in total yards.
1996 — Mikal Bridges, American basketball player ↗(30 years ago)more
Mikal Bridges is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats, winning national championships in 2016 and 2018.
1996 — Trevor Jackson, American actor and singer-songwriter ↗(30 years ago)more
Trevor Howard Lawrence Jackson is an American actor and singer. He is best known for portraying Aaron Jackson on Freeform series Grown-ish, Kevin Blake on Syfy series Eureka, Kris McDuffy on Disney Channel's television film Let It Shine, Kevin LaCroix on American Crime and Dr. Wes Bryant on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
1994 — Heo Young-ji, South Korean singer ↗(32 years ago)more
Hur Young-ji, better known mononymously as Youngji, is a South Korean singer, dancer, entertainer and television personality. She is best known as a member of girl group Kara. In 2023, Hur Young-ji made her official solo debut with the release of the single "L.O.V.E."
Notable deaths
2024 — Tūheitia Paki, Māori King (born 1955) ↗(2 years ago)more
Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, crowned as Kīngi Tūheitia, reigned as the Māori King from 2006 until his death in 2024. He was the eldest son of the previous Māori monarch, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, and was announced as her successor and crowned on 21 August 2006, the final day of her tangi.
2024 — Fatman Scoop, American rapper, hype man and radio personality (born 1971) ↗(2 years ago)more
Isaac Freeman III, better known by his stage name Fatman Scoop, was an American hip-hop artist. Noted for his booming, raw vocal presence on various hip-hop songs, he was best known for his guest performances on the 2005 singles "Lose Control" by Missy Elliott and "It's Like That" by Mariah Carey, as well as his 1999 sleeper hit single, "Be Faithful", whi...
2022 — Mikhail Gorbachev, 8th and final leader of the Soviet Union (born 1931) ↗(4 years ago)more
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was a Soviet and Russian politician who was the last leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 until the country's dissolution in 1991. He served as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1985, and additionally as head of state from 1988.
2019 — Valerie Harper, American actress and writer (born 1939) ↗(7 years ago)more
Valerie Kathryn Harper was an American actress. She began her career as a dancer on Broadway, making her debut as a replacement in the musical Li'l Abner. She played Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977) and its spinoff Rhoda (1974–1978).
2017 — Louise Hay, American motivational author (born 1926) ↗(9 years ago)more
Louise Lynn Hay was an American motivational author and professional speaker. She authored several New Thought self-help books, including the 1984 book You Can Heal Your Life, and founded Hay House publishing.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (243) | 3^5 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (123) | 3 × 41 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 30082026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +8.10° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 71 days |