February 23
February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 312 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Pisces.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On February 23 the Sun's declination is approximately -10.5°. 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 February 23.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
No widely-observed holidays catalogued for this day in our base set. See the external almanacs above for region-specific observances.
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1455 — Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible. ↗(571 years ago)more
The Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42, was the earliest major book printed in Europe using mass-produced metal movable type. It marked the start of the "Gutenberg Revolution" and the age of printed books in the West.
1836 — The Battle of the Alamo began in San Antonio. ↗(190 years ago)more
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event and military engagement in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna reclaimed the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar.
1898 — Émile Zola was imprisoned for libel after writing J'Accuse…! ↗(128 years ago)more
"J'Accuse...!" is an open letter, written by Émile Zola in response to the events of the Dreyfus affair, that was published on 13 January 1898 in the newspaper L'Aurore. Zola addressed the president of France, Félix Faure, and accused his government of antisemitism and the unlawful jailing of Alfred Dreyfus, a French Army General Staff officer who was sen...
1945 — World War II: U.S. Marines raised the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. ↗(81 years ago)more
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is an iconic photograph of six United States Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in the final stages of the Pacific War. Taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press on February 23, 1945, the photograph was published in Sunday newspapers two days later and reprinted in thousands ...
1954 — The first mass inoculation against polio with Jonas Salk's vaccine began at a Pittsburgh elementary school. ↗(72 years ago)more
Polio vaccine is a vaccine used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio). Two types are used: an inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) and a weakened poliovirus given by mouth (OPV). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends all children be fully vaccinated against polio.
Notable births
1685 — George Frideric Handel, German-British composer. ↗(341 years ago)more
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti.
1868 — W. E. B. Du Bois, American sociologist and civil-rights activist. ↗(158 years ago)more
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was an American sociologist, writer, historian, and Pan-Africanist civil rights activist. Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois grew up in a relatively tolerant and integrated community. He completed graduate work at Harvard University, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate.
Notable deaths
1821 — John Keats, English Romantic poet. ↗(205 years ago)more
John Keats was an English poet of the second generation of Romantic poets, along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. His poems had been in publication for less than four years when he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25. They were indifferently received in his lifetime, but his fame grew rapidly after his death.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (54) | 2 × 3^3 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (312) | 2^3 × 3 × 13 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 23022026 · next palindrome year: 2032 |
| Sun declination | -10.51° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 65 days |