December 8
December 8 is the 343rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 23 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 8 the Sun's declination is approximately -23.0°. 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 8.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Battle Day (Falkland Islands)
- Bodhi Day (Japan)
- CARICOM–Cuba Day (Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba)
- Christian feast day: Budoc (Beuzec) of Dol
- Christian feast day: Clement of Ohrid (Julian Calendar), and its related observances: Student's Day (Bulgaria)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2024 — Damascus falls to rebels after Syrian troops withdraw and president Bashar al-Assad leaves the country as his government collapses. Israel as a result invaded into the buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. ↗(2 years ago)more
On 7 December 2024, the Syrian opposition group known as the Southern Operations Room, in co-ordination with the Military Operations Command, led forces that entered the Rif Dimashq region of Syria from the south, and those forces then came within 20 kilometres (12 mi) of the capital Damascus. The Syrian Army withdrew from multiple points in the outskirts.
2019 — First confirmed case of COVID-19 in China. ↗(7 years ago)more
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Starting in January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global health emergency; they declared the end of the emergency in May 2023.
2013 — Riots break out in Singapore, after a fatal accident in Little India. ↗(13 years ago)more
The Little India riot took place in the Singaporean subzone of Little India on 8 December 2013 at SST 21:21, after a fatal traffic accident at the road junction of Race Course Road and Tekka Lane caused the death of 33-year-old Indian construction worker Sakthivel Kumaravelu.
2013 — Metallica performs a show in Antarctica, making them the first musical act to perform on all seven continents. ↗(13 years ago)more
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship made them one of the founding "big four" bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthr...
2010 — With the second launch of the Falcon 9, and the first launch of the Dragon, SpaceX becomes the first private company to successfully launch, orbit and recover a spacecraft. ↗(16 years ago)more
SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1 was the first orbital spaceflight of the Dragon cargo spacecraft, and the second overall flight of the Falcon 9 rocket manufactured by SpaceX. It was also the first demonstration flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.
2010 — The Japanese solar-sail spacecraft IKAROS passes the planet Venus at a distance of about 80,800 km (50,200 mi). ↗(16 years ago)more
Solar sails are a method of spacecraft propulsion using radiation pressure exerted by sunlight on large surfaces. A number of spaceflight missions to test solar propulsion and navigation have been proposed since the 1980s. The two spacecraft to successfully use the technology for propulsion were IKAROS, launched in 2010, and LightSail-2, launched in 2019.
- 2009 — Bombings in Baghdad, Iraq kill 127 people and injure 448 others. ↗(17 years ago)
more
The December 2009 Baghdad bombings were attacks in Baghdad, Iraq, which resulted in the deaths of at least 127 people and injuries to at least 448 more. The attacks have been condemned internationally as acts of terrorism.
- 2004 — The Cusco Declaration is signed in Cusco, Peru, establishing the South American Community of Nations. ↗(22 years ago)
more
The Cusco Declaration, formally titled Preamble to the Foundation Act of the South American Union, is a two-page declaration of intent signed by 12 South American countries during the Third South American Summit on 8 December 2004 in Cusco, Peru. It announces the foundation of the Union of South American Nations.
2004 — Columbus nightclub shooting: Nathan Gale opens fire at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, killing former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell and three others before being shot dead by a police officer. ↗(22 years ago)more
On December 8, 2004, four men were killed and three others wounded in a mass shooting at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The main target of the attack was "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was on stage performing with his band Damageplan at the time of the shooting.
2001 — A raid conducted by the Internal Security Department (ISD) of Singapore foils a Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) plot to bomb foreign embassies in Singapore. ↗(25 years ago)more
The Internal Security Department (ISD) is the principal security agency and domestic intelligence service of Singapore. The department is tasked with collecting and analysing intelligence, making assessments, and taking executive actions to counter national security threats to the country's sovereignty, safety, and stability.
- 1998 — Eighty-one people are killed by armed groups in Algeria. ↗(28 years ago)
more
The Tadjena massacre was an incident resulting in 81 deaths. Beginning about 9:00 p.m. on December 8 and continuing until early December 9, 1998, 81 villagers were killed by armed groups in the mountain villages of Bouhamed and Ayachiche just north of Tadjena, some 170 km (106 mi) west of Algiers, in the Chlef region of western Algeria.
1991 — The leaders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine sign an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States. ↗(35 years ago)more
Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) with a population of 9.1 million.
Notable births
2004 — Billie Starkz, American professional wrestler ↗(22 years ago)more
Lillian Bridget, better known by the ring name Billie Starkz, is an American professional wrestler. She is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), but predominantly appears in AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where she is a member of the M.I.T stable and a former one-time and the inaugural ROH Women's World Television Champion.
2004 — Momoe Mori, Japanese entertainer ↗(22 years ago)more
Momoe Mori is a Japanese rapper, dancer, model, and actress. She is best known as a member of the girl group @onefive, and is a former member of the idol group Sakura Gakuin. She is represented by the talent agency Amuse Inc. and is signed with the record label Avex Trax.
2002 — Sunghoon, South Korean singer ↗(24 years ago)more
Park Sung-hoon, known mononymously as Sunghoon, is a South Korean singer and former figure skater. He competed as a figure skater from 2010 to early 2020; while simultaneously being a K-pop trainee since 2018. He retired from the sport and debuted as a member of the South Korean boy band Enhypen in November 2020.
2001 — Josh Christopher, American basketball player ↗(25 years ago)more
Joshua Evan Christopher is an American professional basketball player for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He is a 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m), 215-pound (98 kg) shooting guard.
2000 — DeMario Douglas, American football player ↗(26 years ago)more
DeMario "Pop" Douglas is an American professional football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Liberty Flames, and was selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft.
- 2000 — Bayron Matos, Dominican American football player ↗(26 years ago)
more
Bayron Matos is a Dominican professional American football offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). After growing up in the Dominican Republic, he moved to the U.S. in high school and played basketball.
Notable deaths
2024 — Jill Jacobson, American actress (born 1954) ↗(2 years ago)more
Jill Jacobson was an American actress of film, television, primetime soap opera, stage, and standup, best known for her television performances.
2024 — Clarke Reed, American businessman and politician (born 1928) ↗(2 years ago)more
Clarke Thomas Reed Sr. was an American businessman and politician. He served as Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party from 1966 to 1976. Prior to his political career, Reed was an agricultural businessman and a graduate in economics.
2023 — Ryan O'Neal, American actor (born 1941) ↗(3 years ago)more
Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal was an American actor. Born in Los Angeles, he trained as an amateur boxer before beginning a career in acting in 1960.
2021 — Robbie Shakespeare, Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer (born 1953) ↗(5 years ago)more
Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare was a Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer, best known as half of the reggae rhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie, with drummer Sly Dunbar. Regarded as one of the most influential reggae bassists, Shakespeare was also known for his creative use of electronics and production effects units.
2019 — René Auberjonois, American actor (born 1940) ↗(7 years ago)more
René Marie Murat Auberjonois was an American actor. He was a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winner, and a three-time Emmy Award nominee, among other accolades.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (343) | 7^3 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (23) | 23 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 08122026 · next palindrome year: 2180 |
| Sun declination | -22.96° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 12 days |