December 23
December 23 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 8 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Capricorn.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On December 23 the Sun's declination is approximately -23.4°. 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 23.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Birthday of the Queen Silvia, an official flag flying day (Sweden)
- Children's Day (South Sudan and Sudan)
- Christian Feast Day: Abassad (Coptic Church)
- Christian Feast Day: Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs (Coptic Church)
- Christian Feast Day: Dagobert II
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2025 — The crash of Harmony Jets Flight 185 killed all eight people on board, including the Libyan Army chief Mohammed al-Haddad in Ankara, Turkey. ↗(1 years ago)more
Harmony Jets Flight 185 was a charter flight from Ankara Esenboğa Airport, Turkey to Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, Libya. On 23 December 2025, the aircraft operating the flight, a Dassault Falcon 50, crashed shortly after takeoff.
2023 — A series of massacres targeting Berom civilians unfold in the Plateau State in Nigeria, killing over 200 people and further injuring over 500. No group claims responsibility. ↗(3 years ago)more
A series of armed attacks occurred between 23 and 25 December 2023 in Plateau State in central Nigeria. They affected at least 17 rural communities in the Nigerian local government areas of Bokkos and Barkin Ladi, resulting in at least 200 deaths and injuries to more than 500 people as well as significant property damage.
2015 — A bomb explodes at Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airport, killing one airport cleaner. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks claim responsibility for the attack four days later. ↗(11 years ago)more
The Sabiha Gökçen Airport bombing took place on 23 December 2015 in the apron area of Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey. The explosion, which occurred at approximately 02:05 local time, wounded two airport cleaners, one of whom later died after being taken to hospital.
2008 — A coup d'état occurs in Guinea hours after the death of President Lansana Conté. ↗(18 years ago)more
On 23 December 2008, a coup d'état occurred in Guinea, shortly after the death of long-time president Lansana Conté. A junta called the National Council for Democracy and Development, headed by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, seized power and announced that it planned to rule the country for two years prior to a new presidential election.
2007 — An agreement is made for the Kingdom of Nepal to be abolished and the country to become a federal republic with the Prime Minister becoming head of state. ↗(19 years ago)more
The Kingdom of Nepal was a Hindu kingdom in South Asia, formed in 1768 by the expansion of the Gorkha Kingdom, and disestablished and replaced by the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in 2008. The king of Nepal served as its head of state, and it was also known as the Gorkha Empire, or sometimes Asal Hindustan.
2005 — An Antonov An-140, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 217 from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Aktau, Kazakhstan, heading across the Caspian Sea, crashes, killing 23 people. ↗(21 years ago)more
The Antonov An-140 is a turboprop regional airliner, designed by the Ukrainian Antonov ASTC bureau as a successor to the Antonov An-24, with extended cargo capacity and the ability to use unprepared airstrips.
2003 — An explosion at the PetroChina Chuandongbei natural gas field in Kai County, Chongqing, China, kills at least 234. ↗(23 years ago)more
PetroChina Company Limited is a Chinese oil and gas company and is the listed arm of state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), headquartered in Dongcheng District, Beijing. The company is currently Asia's largest oil and gas producer.
2002 — A U.S. MQ-1 Predator is shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25 in the first combat engagement between a drone and conventional aircraft. ↗(24 years ago)more
The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator is an American remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) built by General Atomics that was used primarily by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Conceived in the early 1990s for aerial reconnaissance and forward observation roles, the Predator carries cameras and other sensors.
1990 — History of Slovenia: In a referendum, 88.5% of Slovenia's overall electorate vote for independence from Yugoslavia. ↗(36 years ago)more
The history of Slovenia chronicles the period of the Slovenian territory from the 5th century BC to the present. In the Early Bronze Age, Proto-Illyrian tribes settled an area stretching from present-day Albania to the city of Trieste.
1986 — Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, lands at Edwards Air Force Base in California becoming the first aircraft to fly non-stop around the world without aerial or ground refueling. ↗(40 years ago)more
The Rutan Model 76 Voyager is an aircraft designed by Burt Rutan that became the first to fly around the world without stopping or refueling. It was piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager. The flight took off from Edwards Air Force Base's 15,000 foot runway in the Mojave Desert on December 14, 1986, and ended 9 days, 3 minutes and 44 seconds later on Dece...
1984 — After experiencing an engine fire, Aeroflot Flight 3519 attempts to make an emergency landing at Krasnoyarsk International Airport but crashes, killing 110 of the 111 people on board. ↗(42 years ago)more
Aeroflot Flight 3519 was a scheduled flight, operated by a Tupolev Tu-154 that crashed on December 23, 1984, due to an engine failure. 110 occupants were killed; one passenger survived the accident.
1979 — Soviet–Afghan War: Soviet Union forces occupy Kabul, the Afghan capital. ↗(47 years ago)more
The Soviet–Afghan War took place in Afghanistan from December 1979 to February 1989. Marking the beginning of the 47-year-long Afghan conflict, it saw the Soviet Union and the Afghan military fight against the rebelling Afghan mujahideen, aided by Pakistan.
Notable births
2002 — Finn Wolfhard, Canadian actor and musician ↗(24 years ago)more
Finn Michael Wolfhard is a Canadian actor, musician, and film director. He received international attention for playing Mike Wheeler on the Netflix series Stranger Things (2016–2025). He also played Richie Tozier in the horror film It (2017) and its sequel It Chapter Two (2019), and Trevor Spengler in the supernatural comedy Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)...
2000 — Victor Boniface, Nigerian footballer ↗(26 years ago)more
Victor Okoh Boniface is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club Werder Bremen, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, and the Nigeria national team.
1999 — Samuel Lino, Brazilian footballer ↗(27 years ago)more
Samuel Dias Lino is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a left winger or wing-back for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Flamengo and the Brazil national team.
1996 — Bartosz Kapustka, Polish footballer ↗(30 years ago)more
Bartosz Kapustka is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ekstraklasa club Legia Warsaw and the Poland national team.
- 1994 — Reed Alexander, American actor ↗(32 years ago)
more
Reed Alexander is an American actor, journalist, and author. He is currently a correspondent for Insider, formerly “Business Insider,” covering the business of entertainment and the global media industry. Among his most recognizable credentials from his time as an actor is his role as Nevel Papperman in Nickelodeon's iCarly.
- 1992 — Spencer Daniels, American actor ↗(34 years ago)
more
Spencer Eli Daniels is an American film and television actor born in Tarzana, Los Angeles. He began acting professionally at the age of ten and has appeared in over 30 films and TV series including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) and Star Trek (2009). He portrayed Tyler Lomand in a recurring role on the Starz series Crash (2008-2009).
Notable deaths
2024 — Shyam Benegal, Indian director and screenwriter (born 1934) ↗(2 years ago)more
Shyam Benegal was an Indian film director, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. Often regarded as a pioneer of parallel cinema, he is considered as one of the greatest filmmakers post 1970s. He has received several accolades, including eighteen National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award and a Nandi Award.
2024 — Dési Bouterse, Surinamese general and politician, 9th President of Suriname (born 1945) ↗(2 years ago)more
Desiré Delano Bouterse was a Surinamese military officer, politician, and convicted drug trafficker who served as the eighth president of Suriname from 2010 to 2020, having previously led the country twice as a military dictator from 1980 to 1987 and again from 1990 to 1991.
2024 — Sophie Hediger, Swiss snowboarder (born 1998) ↗(2 years ago)more
Sophie Anna Hediger was a Swiss snowboarder. She competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, in women's snowboard cross, and in the mixed team snowboard cross.
- 2023 — William Pope.L, American performance artist (born 1955) ↗(3 years ago)
more
William Pope.L, also known as Pope.L, was an accomplished American visual artist recognized for his contributions to performance art and interventionist public art. He also created pieces in painting, photography, and theater.
- 2022 — Brandon Montrell, American TikTok personality and stand-up comedian (born 1979) ↗(4 years ago)
more
Brandon Montrell, known professionally as Boogie B, was a comedian from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (358) | 2 × 179 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (8) | 2^3 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 23122026 · next palindrome year: 2132 |
| Sun declination | -23.40° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 3 days |