December 12
December 12 is the 347th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 19 days remain until the year's end. It falls in autumn (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Sagittarius.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On December 12 the Sun's declination is approximately -23.2°. At this latitude the Sun is south of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere shorter 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 December 12.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christian feast day: Corentin of Quimper
- Christian feast day: Jane Frances de Chantal
- Christian feast day: Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet
- Christian feast day: Finnian of Clonard
- Christian feast day: Thomas Holland
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
- 2024 — Indian Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju became the undisputed World Chess Champion in a tournament held in Singapore, making him the 18th and the youngest champion in chess history. ↗(2 years ago)
more
Grandmaster (GM) is a title awarded to chess players by the world chess organization FIDE. Apart from World Champion, Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. Once achieved, the title is held for life, though on rare occasions the title has been revoked for cheating.
2021 — Dutch Formula One racing driver Max Verstappen wins the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton to become the first Formula One World Champion to come from the Netherlands. ↗(5 years ago)more
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel, single-seater formula racing cars run by Formula One Group and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
2015 — The Paris Agreement relating to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is adopted. ↗(11 years ago)more
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. The Paris Agreement was negotiated by 196 parties at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference near Paris, France.
2012 — North Korea successfully launches its first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2. ↗(14 years ago)more
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu (Amnok) and Tumen rivers, and South Korea to the south at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
2001 — Prime Minister of Vietnam Phan Văn Khải announces the decision on upgrading the Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng nature reserve to a national park, providing information on projects for the conservation and development of the park and revised maps. ↗(25 years ago)more
The prime minister of Vietnam is the head of government of Vietnam who presides over the meetings of the Government. The prime minister directs the work of government members, and may propose deputy prime ministers to the National Assembly.
2000 — The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore. ↗(26 years ago)more
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that turn on questions of U.S. constitutional or federal law.
- 1999 — A magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits the Philippines's main island of Luzon, killing six people, injuring 40, and causing power outages that affected the capital Manila. ↗(27 years ago)
more
On 12 December 1999, a Mw7.3 earthquake struck the northern coast of Zambales in the Philippines. It was felt in various provinces on the island of Luzon including as far north as Ilocos Norte and as far south as Quezon.
1988 — The Clapham Junction rail crash kills thirty-five and injures hundreds after two collisions of three commuter trains—one of the worst train crashes in the United Kingdom. ↗(38 years ago)more
The Clapham Junction rail crash occurred on the morning of 12 December 1988, when a crowded British Rail passenger train crashed into the rear of another train that had stopped at a signal just south of Clapham Junction railway station in London, England, and subsequently sideswiped an empty train travelling in the opposite direction.
1985 — Arrow Air Flight 1285R, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8, crashes after takeoff in Gander, Newfoundland, killing all 256 people on board, including 236 members of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division. ↗(41 years ago)more
Arrow Air Flight 1285R was an international charter flight carrying U.S. Army personnel from Cairo, Egypt, to their home base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, US, via Cologne, West Germany, and Gander, Newfoundland.
- 1979 — The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. ↗(47 years ago)
more
An earthquake occurred at 02:59 local time on 12 December 1979, with the epicenter just offshore from the border between Ecuador and Colombia, near the port city of Tumaco. With a moment magnitude of 8.2 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), it triggered a major tsunami, which was responsible for most of the estimated 300–600 deaths.
- 1979 — Coup d'état of December Twelfth occurs in South Korea. ↗(47 years ago)
more
The coup d'état of December Twelfth or the 12·12 Military Insurrection was a mutiny which took place on 12 December 1979, in South Korea, where a secret society of military officers known as Hanahoe led by Major General Chun Doo-hwan mutinied against the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army General Jeong Seung-hwa.
1969 — The Piazza Fontana bombing; a bomb explodes at the headquarters of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura (the National Agricultural Bank) in Piazza Fontana in Milan, Italy, killing 17 people and wounding 88. The same afternoon, three more bombs are detonated in Rome and Milan, and another is found unexploded. ↗(57 years ago)more
The Piazza Fontana bombing was a terrorist attack that occurred on 12 December 1969 when a bomb exploded at the headquarters of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura in Piazza Fontana in Milan, Italy, killing 17 people and wounding 88.
Notable births
2001 — Michael Olise, French footballer ↗(25 years ago)more
Michael Akpovie Olise is a professional footballer who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Born in England, he plays for the France national team. Widely regarded as one of the best wingers in the world, he is known for his creativity, dribbling, and flair.
1997 — Ed Oliver, American football player ↗(29 years ago)more
Edward Oliver is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Houston Cougars, winning numerous awards, and was selected by the Bills in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.
1996 — Lucas Hedges, American actor ↗(30 years ago)more
Lucas Hedges is an American actor. A son of filmmaker Peter Hedges, he studied theater at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Hedges began his acting career with a supporting role in Wes Anderson's comedy-drama Moonrise Kingdom (2012).
1994 — Otto Warmbier, American student imprisoned in North Korea (died 2017) ↗(32 years ago)more
Otto Frederick Warmbier was an American college student who was imprisoned in North Korea in 2016 on a charge of subversion. In June 2017, he was released by North Korea in a vegetative state and died soon after his parents requested his feeding tube be removed.
1993 — Zeli Ismail, English footballer ↗(33 years ago)more
Zeli Ismail is a professional footballer who plays as a right midfielder for Cymru Premier club Connah's Quay Nomads. Born in Albania, he has represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level.
1991 — Shohjahon Ergashev, Uzbek professional boxer ↗(35 years ago)more
Shohjahon Ergashev is an Uzbek professional boxer. He challenged for the IBF super-lightweight title in 2023.
Notable deaths
2021 — Vicente Fernández, Mexican actor, ranchera singer, and film producer (born 1940) ↗(5 years ago)more
Vicente Fernández Gómez was a Mexican mariachi singer, actor and film producer. Nicknamed "Chente", "El Charro de Huentitán", "El Ídolo de México", and "El Rey de la Música Ranchera", Fernández started his career as a busker, and went on to become a cultural icon, having recorded more than 100 albums and contributing to more than 150 films.
2021 — Bernie Fowler, American politician and environmental advocate (born 1924) ↗(5 years ago)more
Clyde Bernard Fowler was an American politician from Maryland. He was a Calvert County Commissioner from 1970 to 1982, and served in the Maryland Senate between 1983 and 1994. Fowler is best known for his advocacy for the cleanup of the Patuxent River, the largest river to be found entirely within the State of Maryland.
2021 — Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi, Tongan politician and military officer, Deputy Prime Minister (born 1955) ↗(5 years ago)more
'Siosaʻia Lausiʻi, Lord Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi, also known as Lord Maʻafu, was a Tongan politician, military officer, and member of the Tongan nobility.
2020 — John le Carré, English author (born 1931) ↗(6 years ago)more
David John Moore Cornwell, known by his pen name John le Carré, was an English author. Many of his espionage novels have been adapted for film or television. He has been described as a "sophisticated, morally ambiguous writer", and is considered one of the greatest novelists of the postwar era.
2020 — Ann Reinking, American actress, dancer, and choreographer (born 1949) ↗(6 years ago)more
Ann Reinking was an American dancer, actress, choreographer, and singer. As a star of Broadway musicals, her credits include Over Here! (1974), Goodtime Charley (1975), Chicago (1977), Dancin' (1978), and Sweet Charity (1986). On screen, her films include All That Jazz (1979), Annie (1982), and Micki & Maude (1984).
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (347) | 347 · prime |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (19) | 19 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 12122026 · next palindrome year: 2121 |
| Sun declination | -23.23° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 8 days |