January 7
January 7 is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 359 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 7 the Sun's declination is approximately -22.4°. 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 January 7.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christmas Day (Eastern Orthodox, Julian calendar)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1610 — Galileo Galilei observed the four largest moons of Jupiter for the first time. ↗(416 years ago)more
The Galilean moons, or Galilean satellites, are the four largest moons of Jupiter. They are, in descending-size order, Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa. They are the most readily visible Solar System objects after Saturn, the dimmest of the classical planets; though their closeness to bright Jupiter makes naked-eye observation very difficult, they are r...
1785 — Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries crossed the English Channel by hot-air balloon. ↗(241 years ago)more
Jean-Pierre François Blanchard was a French inventor, best known as a pioneer of gas balloon flight, who distinguished himself in the conquest of the air in a balloon. Notable for his successful hydrogen balloon flight in Paris on 2 March 1784, Blanchard later moved to London and undertook flights with varying propulsion mechanisms.
1927 — The first transatlantic telephone service was established between London and New York. ↗(99 years ago)more
A transatlantic telecommunications cable is a submarine communications cable connecting one side of the Atlantic Ocean to the other. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, each cable was a single wire. After mid-century, coaxial cable came into use, with amplifiers.
1990 — The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to the public for repairs after centuries of tilting. ↗(36 years ago)more
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, or simply the Tower of Pisa, is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. It is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is one of three structures in Pisa's Cathedral Square, which includes the cathedral and Pisa Baptistry.
Notable births
1502 — Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced the Gregorian calendar. ↗(524 years ago)more
Pope Gregory XIII was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 May 1572 to his death in April 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally accepted civil calendar to this day.
1800 — Millard Fillmore, 13th President of the United States. ↗(226 years ago)more
Millard Fillmore was the 13th president of the United States, serving from 1850 to 1853. He was the last president to be a member of the Whig Party while in the White House, and the last to be neither a Democrat nor a Republican. A former member of the U.S.
1964 — Nicolas Cage, American actor. ↗(62 years ago)more
Nicolas Kim Coppola, known professionally as Nicolas Cage, is an American actor and film producer. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for two BAFTA Awards.
Notable deaths
1989 — Hirohito, 124th Emperor of Japan (Shōwa era). ↗(37 years ago)more
Emperor Shōwa was the 124th emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 1926 until his death in 1989. He remains the longest-reigning emperor in Japanese history and one of the longest-reigning monarchs in the world.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (7) | 7 · prime |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (359) | 359 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 07012026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -22.41° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 18 days |