March 17
March 17 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 289 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Pisces.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On March 17 the Sun's declination is approximately -1.6°. 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 March 17.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- St Patrick's Day (Ireland and Irish diaspora)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
180 — Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius died at Vindobona (Vienna). ↗(1846 years ago)more
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers later known as the Five Good Emperors and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace, calm, and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BC to 180 AD.
1776 — American Revolutionary War: British forces evacuated Boston, ending the siege. ↗(250 years ago)more
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War. In the siege, American patriot militia led by newly-installed Continental Army commander George Washington prevented the British Army, which was garrisoned in Boston, from moving by land. Both sides faced resource, supply, and personnel challenges during the siege.
1958 — The U.S. launched Vanguard 1, the world's oldest still-orbiting artificial satellite. ↗(68 years ago)more
Vanguard 1 is an American satellite that was the fourth artificial Earth-orbiting satellite to be successfully launched, following Sputnik 1, Sputnik 2, and Explorer 1. It was launched 17 March 1958. Vanguard 1 was the first satellite to have solar electric power.
1969 — Golda Meir became the first female Prime Minister of Israel. ↗(57 years ago)more
Golda Meir was the prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974. She was Israel's first and, to date, only female head of government.
Notable births
1834 — Gottlieb Daimler, German engineer (internal combustion engine). ↗(192 years ago)more
Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler was a German engineer, industrial designer and industrialist. He was a pioneer of internal-combustion engines and automobile development. He invented the high-speed liquid petroleum-fueled engine.
1919 — Nat King Cole, American singer-pianist. ↗(107 years ago)more
Nathaniel Adams Coles, known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's career as a jazz and pop vocalist started in the late 1930s and spanned almost three decades where he found success and recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts.
1951 — Kurt Russell, American actor. ↗(75 years ago)more
Kurt Vogel Russell is an American actor. He began his career as a child actor before transitioning to leading roles as an adult in various genres such as action adventures, science-fiction, westerns, romance films, comedic films, and family dramas.
Notable deaths
- 180 — Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and philosopher. ↗(1846 years ago)
more
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers later known as the Five Good Emperors and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace, calm, and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BC to 180 AD.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (77) | 7 × 11 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (289) | 17^2 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 17032026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -1.61° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 88 days |