July 20
July 20 is the 202nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 164 days remain until the year's end. It falls in summer (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Cancer.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On July 20 the Sun's declination is approximately +20.4°. At this latitude the Sun is north of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere longer 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 July 20.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Birthday of Crown Prince Haakon Magnus (Norway)
- Christian feast day: Ansegisus
- Christian feast day: Apollinaris of Ravenna
- Christian feast day: Aurelius
- Christian feast day: Ealhswith (or Elswith)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2021 — American businessman Jeff Bezos flies to space aboard New Shepard NS-16 operated by his private spaceflight company Blue Origin. ↗(5 years ago)more
Jeffrey Preston Bezos is an American businessman, the founder, executive chairman, and former president and CEO of Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce and cloud computing company. According to Forbes, as of December 2025, Bezos's estimated net worth is US$239.4 billion, making him the fourth richest person in the world.
2019 — Soyuz MS-13 is launched to the International Space Station on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. ↗(7 years ago)more
Soyuz MS-13, also designated ISS flight 59S, was a crewed Soyuz mission launched on 20 July 2019 – the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing – carrying three members of the Expedition 60 crew to the International Space Station: a Russian commander, an American flight engineer, and a European flight engineer.
2017 — O. J. Simpson is granted parole to be released from prison after serving nine years of a 33-year sentence after being convicted of armed robbery in Las Vegas. ↗(9 years ago)more
Orenthal James Simpson, also known by his nickname "the Juice", was an American professional football player, actor, and media personality who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills.
2015 — A huge explosion in the mostly Kurdish border town of Suruç, Turkey, targeting the Socialist Youth Associations Federation, kills at least 31 people and injures over 100. ↗(11 years ago)more
The Suruç bombing was a suicide attack by the Turkish sect of Islamic State named Dokumacılar against Turkish leftists that took place in the Suruç district of Şanlıurfa Province in Turkey on 20 July 2015, outside the Amara Culture Centre. A total of 34 people were killed and 104 were reported injured.
2015 — The United States and Cuba resume full diplomatic relations after five decades. ↗(11 years ago)more
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C.
- 2013 — Seventeen government soldiers are killed in an attack by FARC revolutionaries in the Colombian department of Arauca. ↗(13 years ago)
more
On 20 July 2013, two clashes occurred in Colombia between government forces and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas. Nineteen soldiers were killed in the deadliest day since peace talks began in November 2012. The conflict came one day after a FARC-EP officer, Alejandra, had detained with a chain around the neck a vacationing U.S.
2013 — Syrian civil war: The Battle of Ras al-Ayn ends with the expulsion of Islamist forces from the city by the People's Protection Units (YPG). ↗(13 years ago)more
The Syrian Civil War was an armed conflict that began with the Syrian revolution in March 2011, when popular discontent with the Ba'athist regime ruled by Bashar al-Assad triggered large-scale protests and pro-democracy rallies across Syria, as part of the wider Arab Spring.
2012 — James Holmes opened fire at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 and injuring 70 others. ↗(14 years ago)more
James Eagan Holmes is an American convicted mass murderer who perpetrated the 2012 Aurora theater shooting in which he killed 12 people and injured 70 others at a Century 16 movie theater on July 20, 2012. He had no known criminal background before the shooting occurred.
- 2012 — Syrian civil war: The People's Protection Units (YPG) capture the cities of Amuda and Efrîn without resistance. ↗(14 years ago)
more
The Syrian Civil War was an armed conflict that began with the Syrian revolution in March 2011, when popular discontent with the Ba'athist regime ruled by Bashar al-Assad triggered large-scale protests and pro-democracy rallies across Syria, as part of the wider Arab Spring.
2005 — The Civil Marriage Act legalizes same-sex marriage in Canada. ↗(21 years ago)more
The Civil Marriage Act is a federal statute legalizing same-sex marriage across Canada. At the time it became law, same-sex marriage had already been legalized by court decisions in all Canadian jurisdictions except Alberta, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
1999 — The Chinese Communist Party begins a persecution campaign against Falun Gong, arresting thousands nationwide. ↗(27 years ago)more
The persecution of Falun Gong is the campaign initiated in 1999 by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to eliminate the new religious movement Falun Gong in China, maintaining a doctrine of state atheism.
1997 — The fully restored USS Constitution (a.k.a. Old Ironsides) celebrates its 200th birthday by setting sail for the first time in 116 years. ↗(29 years ago)more
USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She is the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat. She was launched in 1797, one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed.
Notable births
2001 — Álex Baena, Spanish footballer ↗(25 years ago)more
Alejandro "Álex" Baena Rodríguez is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left midfielder or attacking midfielder for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Spain national team.
1999 — Pop Smoke, American rapper and singer (died 2020) ↗(27 years ago)more
Bashar Barakah Jackson, known professionally as Pop Smoke, was an American rapper. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, he rose to fame with the release of his 2019 singles "Welcome to the Party" and "Dior".
1996 — Ben Simmons, Australian basketball player ↗(30 years ago)more
Benjamin David Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player who last played for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers, after which he was named a consensus first-team All-American and the USBWA National Freshman of the Year.
1995 — Moses Leota, New Zealand rugby league player ↗(31 years ago)more
Moses Leota is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop and lock for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL. He has played for both Samoa and New Zealand at international level. He won the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 NRL Grand Finals with the Penrith Panthers.
1993 — Steven Adams, New Zealand basketball player ↗(33 years ago)more
Steven Funaki Paea He Ofa Ki Loa Adams is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A center, Adams has played for four NBA teams since making his NBA debut in 2013.
1993 — Nick Cousins, Canadian ice hockey player ↗(33 years ago)more
Brian Nicholas Cousins is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the third round, 68th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2011 NHL entry draft.
Notable deaths
2025 — Malcolm-Jamal Warner, American actor (born 1970) ↗(1 years ago)more
Malcolm-Jamal Warner was an American actor, musician and poet. He rose to prominence for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards.
2024 — Jerry Miller, American songwriter, guitarist and vocalist (born 1943) ↗(2 years ago)more
Jerry Miller was an American songwriter, guitarist and vocalist. He performed as a solo artist and as a member of the Jerry Miller Band. He was also a founding member of the 1960s San Francisco band Moby Grape, which continues to perform occasionally.
2024 — Jill Schary Robinson, American novelist (born 1936) ↗(2 years ago)more
Jill Schary Robinson was an American novelist, essayist, and teacher. Based in Los Angeles, her memoirs contended with the themes of addiction, recovery, and growing up during the golden age of Hollywood.
2020 — Michael Brooks, political commentator (born 1983) ↗(6 years ago)more
Michael Jamal Brooks was an American talk show host, writer, left-wing political commentator, and comedian. While co-hosting The Majority Report with Sam Seder, he launched The Michael Brooks Show in August 2017 and provided commentary for media outlets, making regular appearances on shows such as The Young Turks.
2017 — Chester Bennington, American singer (born 1976) ↗(9 years ago)more
Chester Charles Bennington was an American singer and songwriter who was the lead vocalist of the rock band Linkin Park. He was also the lead vocalist of Grey Daze, Dead by Sunrise, and Stone Temple Pilots at various points in his career.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (202) | 2 × 101 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (164) | 2^2 × 41 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 20072026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +20.43° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 30 days |