January 20
January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 346 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 January 20 the Sun's declination is approximately -20.3°. 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 20.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Inauguration Day (United States, every fourth year — 21st-Amendment date)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1265 — The first English parliament called by Simon de Montfort assembled at Westminster. ↗(761 years ago)more
Simon de Montfort's Parliament was an English parliament held from 20 January 1265 until mid-March of the same year, called by Simon de Montfort, a baronial rebel leader.
1841 — Hong Kong was occupied by the British during the First Opium War. ↗(185 years ago)more
Hong Kong was under British rule from 1841 to 1997, except for a four-year period of Japanese occupation during the Second World War from 1941 to 1945. It was a Crown colony of the United Kingdom from 1841 to 1981, and a dependent territory from 1981 to 1997.
- 1937 — Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated for a second term — the first U.S. presidential inauguration on January 20. ↗(89 years ago)
more
Inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt may refer to:First inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933 Second inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1937 Third inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1941 Fourth inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1945
1981 — Iran released the 52 American hostages, after 444 days of captivity, minutes after Ronald Reagan's inauguration. ↗(45 years ago)more
The Iran hostage crisis began on November 4, 1979, when 66 Americans, including diplomats and other civilian personnel, were taken hostage at the Embassy of the United States in Tehran, with 52 of them being held until January 20, 1981.
2009 — Barack Obama became the first African-American President of the United States. ↗(17 years ago)more
The first inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, at the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The 56th inauguration, which set a record attendance for any event held in the city, marked the commencement of the first term of Barack Obama as president and Joe Bid...
Notable births
1716 — Charles III of Spain. ↗(310 years ago)more
Charles III was King of Spain from 1759 until his death in 1788. He was also Duke of Parma and Piacenza as Charles I (1731–1735), King of Naples as Charles VII and King of Sicily as Charles III (1735–1759). He was the fourth son of Philip V of Spain and the eldest son of Philip's second wife, Elisabeth Farnese.
1920 — Federico Fellini, Italian filmmaker. ↗(106 years ago)more
Federico Fellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He is known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time.
1930 — Buzz Aldrin, American astronaut, second person on the Moon. ↗(96 years ago)more
Buzz Aldrin is an American former astronaut, aeronautical engineer, and fighter pilot. He was the second person to walk on the Moon after mission commander Neil Armstrong. He made three spacewalks as pilot of the 1966 Gemini 12 mission, and was the Lunar Module Eagle pilot on the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.
Notable deaths
1936 — George V of the United Kingdom. ↗(90 years ago)more
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
1993 — Audrey Hepburn, British actress and humanitarian. ↗(33 years ago)more
Audrey Kathleen Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as a film and fashion star, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen legend from the Classical Hollywood cinema.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (20) | 2^2 × 5 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (346) | 2 × 173 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 20012026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -20.33° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 31 days |