February 5
February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 330 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Aquarius.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On February 5 the Sun's declination is approximately -16.4°. 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 February 5.
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.
1597 — A group of Christians, known as the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, were crucified at Nagasaki. ↗(429 years ago)more
The 26 Martyrs of Japan were a group of Catholics who were executed by crucifixion on 5 February 1597, in Nagasaki, Japan. Their martyrdom is especially significant in the history of the Catholic Church in Japan.
1885 — King Leopold II of Belgium established the Congo Free State as his personal possession. ↗(141 years ago)more
The Congo Free State (CFS), also known as the Independent State of the Congo, was a large state and absolute monarchy in Central Africa from 1885 to 1908. It was privately owned by King Leopold II, the constitutional monarch of the Kingdom of Belgium. In legal terms, the two separate countries were in a personal union.
1917 — The Constitution of Mexico was adopted, establishing federal democracy. ↗(109 years ago)more
The current Constitution of Mexico, formally the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, Mexico, by a constituent convention during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917, and was later amended several times.
1971 — Apollo 14 astronauts landed on the Moon's Fra Mauro highlands. ↗(55 years ago)more
Apollo 14 was the eighth crewed mission in the United States Apollo program, the third to land on the Moon, and the first to land in the lunar highlands. It was the last of the "H missions", landings at specific sites of scientific interest on the Moon for two-day stays with two lunar extravehicular activities.
Notable births
1837 — Dwight L. Moody, American evangelist. ↗(189 years ago)more
Dwight Lyman Moody, also known as D. L. Moody, was an American evangelist and publisher connected with Keswickianism, who founded the Moody Church, Northfield School and Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, Moody Bible Institute, and Moody Publishers. One of his most famous quotes was "Faith makes all things possible...
1914 — William S. Burroughs, American Beat Generation writer. ↗(112 years ago)more
William Seward Burroughs II was an American writer and visual artist. He is widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodern author who influenced both underground and popular culture and literature. Much of Burroughs's work is highly experimental and features unreliable narrators.
1985 — Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese footballer. ↗(41 years ago)more
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, nicknamed CR7, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, he has won numerous individual accolades throughout his career, including five Ballon d'Ors, a rec...
Notable deaths
1881 — Thomas Carlyle, Scottish essayist and historian. ↗(145 years ago)more
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher. Known as the "sage of Chelsea", his writings strongly influenced the intellectual and artistic culture of the Victorian era.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (36) | 2^2 × 3^2 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (330) | 2 × 3 × 5 × 11 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 05022026 · next palindrome year: 2050 |
| Sun declination | -16.40° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 47 days |