March 8
March 8 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 298 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 8 the Sun's declination is approximately -5.2°. 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 8.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- International Women's Day (UN)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1817 — The New York Stock Exchange was formally constituted as the New York Stock and Exchange Board. ↗(209 years ago)more
The New York Stock Exchange is an American stock exchange headquartered at the New York Stock Exchange Building in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is the largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization, exceeding $44 trillion in January 2026.
1862 — American Civil War: USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (Merrimack) clashed at Hampton Roads — the first battle between ironclads. ↗(164 years ago)more
The Battle of Hampton Roads, also referred to as the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack or the Battle of Ironclads, was a naval battle during the American Civil War.
1917 — The February Revolution (by the Julian calendar) began in Russia, leading to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. ↗(109 years ago)more
The February Revolution, known in Soviet historiography as the February Bourgeois Democratic Revolution, and sometimes as the March Revolution, was the first of two revolutions which took place in Russia in 1917.
1965 — 3,500 U.S. Marines arrived in South Vietnam — the first U.S. ground combat troops there. ↗(61 years ago)more
The Vietnam War was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam and their allies. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union and China, while South Vietnam was supported by the United States and other anti-communist nations.
Notable births
1859 — Kenneth Grahame, Scottish author (The Wind in the Willows). ↗(167 years ago)more
Kenneth Grahame was a Scottish writer. He is best remembered for the classic of children's literature The Wind in the Willows (1908). Born in Scotland, he spent most of his childhood with his grandmother in England, following the death of his mother and his father's inability to look after the children.
1976 — Freddie Prinze Jr., American actor. ↗(50 years ago)more
Freddie James Prinze Jr. is an American actor. He has starred in films such as I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its sequels I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) and I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025), She's All That (1999), Down to You, Boys and Girls, Summer Catch (2001), Scooby-Doo (2002), and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004).
Notable deaths
1869 — Hector Berlioz, French composer. ↗(157 years ago)more
Louis-Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, conductor and critic. His output includes orchestral works such as the Symphonie fantastique and Harold in Italy, choral pieces including the Requiem and L'Enfance du Christ, his three operas Benvenuto Cellini, Les Troyens and Béatrice et Bénédict, and works of hybrid genres such as the "dramatic sympho...
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (68) | 2^2 × 17 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (298) | 2 × 149 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 08032026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -5.20° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 79 days |