February 6
February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 329 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 6 the Sun's declination is approximately -16.1°. 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 6.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Waitangi Day (New Zealand)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1788 — Massachusetts became the sixth U.S. state to ratify the Constitution. ↗(238 years ago)more
Massachusetts, officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode Island to its south, New Hampshire and Vermont to its north, and New York to its west.
1840 — The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in New Zealand by representatives of the British Crown and Māori chiefs. ↗(186 years ago)more
The Treaty of Waitangi, sometimes referred to as Te Tiriti, is a document of importance to the history of New Zealand, and its national identity. The constitutional importance of the Treaty of Waitangi was limited by the British Crown refusals to recognise it for over a century, and remains contested in the face of on-going colonial resistance, especially...
1911 — Ronald Reagan, future 40th U.S. President, was born. ↗(115 years ago)more
Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. A member of the Republican Party, he became an important figure in the American conservative movement. The period encompassing his presidency is known as the Reagan era.
1952 — Princess Elizabeth ascended the British throne as Queen Elizabeth II following the death of her father, George VI. ↗(74 years ago)more
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch of 15 realms at her death.
1958 — The Munich air disaster: a plane carrying Manchester United footballers crashed, killing 23. ↗(68 years ago)more
The Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off at Munich-Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany. The aircraft was carrying the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes", along with supporters and journalists.
Notable births
1564 — Christopher Marlowe, English playwright. ↗(462 years ago)more
Christopher Marlowe, also known as Kit Marlowe, was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe is among the most famous of the Elizabethan playwrights. Based upon the "many imitations" of his play Tamburlaine, modern scholars consider him to have been the foremost dramatist in London in the years just before his mysterious...
1895 — Babe Ruth, American baseball player. ↗(131 years ago)more
George Herman "Babe" Ruth was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", he began his MLB career as a star left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New Yo...
- 1911 — Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. President. ↗(115 years ago)
more
Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. A member of the Republican Party, he became an important figure in the American conservative movement. The period encompassing his presidency is known as the Reagan era.
1945 — Bob Marley, Jamaican reggae musician. ↗(81 years ago)more
Robert Nesta Marley was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, and was renowned for his distinctive vocal and songwriting style. Marley increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide and became a global figure in popular culture.
Notable deaths
1952 — George VI of the United Kingdom. ↗(74 years ago)more
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of India from 1936 until the British Raj was dissolved in August 1947, and the first Head of the Commonwealth following the London Declaration of 1949.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (37) | 37 · prime |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (329) | 7 × 47 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 06022026 · next palindrome year: 2060 |
| Sun declination | -16.10° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 48 days |