May 17
May 17 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 228 days remain until the year's end. It falls in spring (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Taurus.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On May 17 the Sun's declination is approximately +19.5°. 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 May 17.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Constitution Day (Norway, 1814)
- World Telecommunication Day (UN)
- International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1792 — Twenty-four stockbrokers signed the Buttonwood Agreement, the founding document of the New York Stock Exchange. ↗(234 years ago)more
The Buttonwood Agreement is the founding document of what is now the New York Stock Exchange and is one of the most important financial documents in U.S. history. The agreement organized securities trading in New York City and was signed on May 17, 1792 between 24 stockbrokers outside of 68 Wall Street.
1875 — Aristides won the first Kentucky Derby. ↗(151 years ago)more
The Kentucky Derby is an American Grade I stakes race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies 121 pounds.
- 1954 — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. ↗(72 years ago)
more
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), is a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court which ruled that U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, even if the segregated facilities are equal in quality.
- 1990 — The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. ↗(36 years ago)
Notable births
1749 — Edward Jenner, English physician (smallpox vaccine). ↗(277 years ago)more
Edward Jenner was an English physician and scientist who pioneered the concept of vaccines and created the smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine. The terms vaccine and vaccination are derived from Variolae vaccinae, the term devised by Jenner to denote cowpox.
1936 — Dennis Hopper, American actor and filmmaker. ↗(90 years ago)more
Dennis Lee Hopper was an American actor, filmmaker, photographer and visual artist. He is considered one of the key figures of the New Hollywood era. He earned prizes from the Cannes Film Festival and Venice International Film Festival as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.
Notable deaths
1727 — Catherine I of Russia. ↗(299 years ago)more
Catherine I was Empress of Russia from 8 February 1725 until her death in 1727. She was previously empress consort of Russia from 1721 to 1725 as the second wife of Peter the Great, and tsaritsa consort from 1712 to 1721.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (138) | 2 × 3 × 23 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (228) | 2^2 × 3 × 19 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 17052026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +19.48° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 34 days |