June 24
June 24 is the 176th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 190 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 June 24 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 24.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec)
- Inti Raymi (Andean South America)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1314 — The Battle of Bannockburn ended with Scottish victory. ↗(712 years ago)more
The Battle of Bannockburn was fought on 23–24 June 1314, between the army of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and the army of King Edward II of England, during the First War of Scottish Independence. It was a decisive victory for Robert Bruce and formed a major turning point in the war, which ended 14 years later with the de jure restoration of Scottish i...
1497 — John Cabot, sailing for England, sighted what is now Cape Breton or Newfoundland. ↗(529 years ago)more
John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer. His 1497 voyage to the coast of North America under the commission of Henry VII, King of England is the earliest known European exploration of coastal North America since the Norse visits to Vinland in the eleventh century. To mark the celebration of the 500th anniversary of Cabot's expedition, both the Ca...
1947 — Pilot Kenneth Arnold reported a sighting near Mount Rainier — coining the term "flying saucer". ↗(79 years ago)more
On June 24, 1947, private pilot Kenneth Arnold saw what he described as a string of nine shiny unidentified flying objects flying past Mount Rainier at speeds that he estimated to be at least 1,200 miles per hour (1,900 km/h).
1948 — The Soviet Union began the Berlin Blockade. ↗(78 years ago)more
The Berlin Blockade was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control.
Notable births
1813 — Henry Ward Beecher, American Congregationalist clergyman. ↗(213 years ago)more
Henry Ward Beecher was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery, his emphasis on God's love, and his 1875 adultery trial. His rhetorical focus on the love of Christ has influenced mainstream Christianity through the 21st century.
1987 — Lionel Messi, Argentine footballer. ↗(39 years ago)more
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, Messi has set numerous records for individual accolades won throughout his professional footballing career, inclu...
Notable deaths
1908 — Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th U.S. President. ↗(118 years ago)more
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, serving from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. He was the first U.S. president to serve nonconsecutive terms and the first Democrat elected president after the American Civil War.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (176) | 2^4 × 11 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (190) | 2 × 5 × 19 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 24062026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +23.39° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 4 days |