February 8
February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 327 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 8 the Sun's declination is approximately -15.5°. 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 8.
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.
1587 — Mary, Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringhay Castle for her involvement in the Babington Plot. ↗(439 years ago)more
Mary, Queen of Scots, also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication on 24 July 1567.
1693 — The College of William & Mary, the second-oldest U.S. college, was chartered. ↗(333 years ago)more
The College of William & Mary (W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1693 under a royal charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II, it is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the ninth-oldest in the English-speaking world.
1904 — The Russo-Japanese War began with a Japanese surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur. ↗(122 years ago)more
The Russo-Japanese War was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and the Korean Empire. The major land battles of the war were fought on the Liaodong Peninsula and near Mukden in Southern Manchuria, with naval battles taking place in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.
1910 — The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated. ↗(116 years ago)more
Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, is the largest Scouting organization and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants.
Notable births
1925 — Jack Lemmon, American actor. ↗(101 years ago)more
John Uhler Lemmon III was an American actor. Considered proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, he was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in comedy-drama films. He received numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards and one Volpi Cup.
1931 — James Dean, American actor. ↗(95 years ago)more
James Byron Dean was an American actor. He became one of the most influential figures in Hollywood in the 1950s, and his impact on cinema and popular culture was profound, although his career lasted only five years.
Notable deaths
1725 — Peter the Great, Russian tsar. ↗(301 years ago)more
Peter I was the Tsar of all Russia from 1682 and the first Emperor of Russia from 1721 until his death in 1725. He reigned jointly with his half-brother Ivan V until 1696. Peter, as an autocrat, organized a well-ordered police state.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (39) | 3 × 13 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (327) | 3 × 109 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 08022026 · next palindrome year: 2080 |
| Sun declination | -15.51° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 50 days |