January 17
January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 349 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Capricorn.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On January 17 the Sun's declination is approximately -20.9°. 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 January 17.
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.
- 1377 — Pope Gregory XI moved the Papacy back to Rome from Avignon. ↗(649 years ago)
more
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon rather than in Rome. The situation arose from the conflict between the papacy and the French crown, culminating in the death of Pope Boniface VIII after his arrest and maltreatment by agents of Philip IV of France.
1773 — Captain James Cook became the first European explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle. ↗(253 years ago)more
Captain James Cook was a British Royal Navy officer, explorer, and cartographer who led three voyages of exploration to the Pacific and Southern Oceans between 1768 and 1779. He completed the first recorded circumnavigation of the main islands of New Zealand, and led the first recorded visit by Europeans to the east coast of Australia and the Hawaiian Isl...
1893 — American businessmen and sugar planters overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy of Queen Liliʻuokalani. ↗(133 years ago)more
The Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown in a coup d'état against Queen Liliʻuokalani that took place on January 17, 1893, on the island of Oahu. The coup was led by the Committee of Safety, composed of seven foreign-born permanent residents and six Hawaiian-born people in Honolulu.
1961 — U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his farewell address, warning of the "military-industrial complex". ↗(65 years ago)more
The final public speech of Dwight D. Eisenhower as the 34th president of the United States was delivered in a television broadcast on January 17, 1961. Best known for advocating that the nation guard against the potential influence of the military–industrial complex, the speech also expressed concerns about planning for the future and the dangers of massi...
1995 — The Great Hanshin earthquake struck Kobe, Japan, killing more than 6,400. ↗(31 years ago)more
The Kobe earthquake, also known as the Great Hanshin Earthquake , occurred on January 17, 1995, at 05:46:53 JST in the southern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, including the region of Hanshin. It measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum intensity of 7 on the JMA Seismic Intensity Scale. The tremors lasted for approximately 20 seconds.
Notable births
1706 — Benjamin Franklin, U.S. Founding Father, scientist and printer. ↗(320 years ago)more
Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher. Among the most influential intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States; a drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and the first postmaster general.
1942 — Muhammad Ali, American boxer and activist. ↗(84 years ago)more
Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "the Greatest", he is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970, was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978, and was the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion fr...
1962 — Jim Carrey, Canadian-American actor. ↗(64 years ago)more
James Eugene Carrey is a Canadian and American actor and comedian. Known primarily for his energetic slapstick performances, he is regarded as one of the most prominent comedic actors of his generation. He has received two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for BAFTA Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Notable deaths
1893 — Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th President of the United States. ↗(133 years ago)more
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th president of the United States, serving from 1877 to 1881. He served as Cincinnati's city solicitor from 1858 to 1861 and was known as a staunch abolitionist who defended refugee slaves in court proceedings. At the start of the Civil War, Hayes left a fledgling political career to join the Union army.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (17) | 17 · prime |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (349) | 349 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 17012026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -20.91° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 28 days |