June 20
June 20 is the 172nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 194 days remain until the year's end. It falls in spring (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Gemini.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On June 20 the Sun's declination is approximately +23.4°. 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 June 20.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- World Refugee Day (UN)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1782 — The U.S. Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States. ↗(244 years ago)more
The Great Seal of the United States is the seal of the United States of America. The phrase is used both for the impression device itself, which is kept by the United States secretary of state, and more generally for the impression it produces.
1837 — Queen Victoria succeeded to the British throne on the death of her uncle William IV. ↗(189 years ago)more
Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days, which was longer than those of any of her predecessors, constituted the Victorian era, a period of industrial, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom marked by a great expansion ...
1893 — Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the axe murders of her father and stepmother. ↗(133 years ago)more
Lizzie Andrew Borden was an American woman who was tried and acquitted of the August 4, 1892, axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. No one else was charged in the murders and, despite ostracism from other residents, Borden spent the remainder of her life in Fall River.
1944 — Continuation War: the Soviet Union began a major offensive against Finland. ↗(82 years ago)more
The Continuation War, also known as the Second Soviet–Finnish War, was a conflict fought by Finland and Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union during World War II. It began with a Finnish declaration of war on 25 June 1941 and ended on 19 September 1944 with the Moscow Armistice.
Notable births
1909 — Errol Flynn, Tasmanian-Australian actor. ↗(117 years ago)more
Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn was an Australian and American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Olivia de Havilland and reputation for his womanising and hedonistic personal life.
1949 — Lionel Richie, American singer. ↗(77 years ago)more
Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores; writing and recording the hit singles "Easy", "Sail On", "Three Times a Lady", and "Still" with the group before his departure.
1967 — Nicole Kidman, Australian-American actress. ↗(59 years ago)more
Nicole Mary Kidman is an Australian and American actress and producer. Known for her work in blockbusters and independent films across many genres, she has consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid actresses since the late 1990s.
Notable deaths
1837 — William IV of the United Kingdom. ↗(189 years ago)more
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded his elder brother George IV, becoming the last king and penultimate monarch of the United Kingdom's House of Hanover.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (172) | 2^2 × 43 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (194) | 2 × 97 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 20062026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +23.44° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 0 days |