May 2
May 2 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 243 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 2 the Sun's declination is approximately +15.5°. 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 2.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
No widely-observed holidays catalogued for this day in our base set. See the external almanacs above for region-specific observances.
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1536 — Anne Boleyn was arrested and taken to the Tower of London. ↗(490 years ago)more
Anne Boleyn was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII. The circumstances of her marriage and execution, by beheading for treason, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that marked the start of the English Reformation.
1611 — The Authorised King James Version of the Bible was published. ↗(415 years ago)more
The King James Version (KJV), also known as the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an Early Modern English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, by sponsorship of King James VI and I.
1933 — Loch Ness Monster: a sighting was reported by the Inverness Courier, popularising the legend. ↗(93 years ago)more
The Loch Ness Monster, known affectionately as Nessie, is a mythical creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or more humps protruding from the water.
1945 — Berlin garrison surrendered to Soviet forces. ↗(81 years ago)more
The Battle of Berlin, designated as the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, and also known as the Fall of Berlin, was one of the last major offensives of the European theatre of World War II.
Notable births
1729 — Catherine the Great of Russia. ↗(297 years ago)more
Catherine II, commonly known as Catherine the Great, was the Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. She came to power after a coup d'etat against her husband, Peter III. Her long reign helped Russia thrive under a golden age during the Enlightenment.
1903 — Benjamin Spock, American paediatrician. ↗(123 years ago)more
Benjamin McLane Spock, widely known as Dr. Spock, was an American pediatrician, Olympic athlete, and left-wing political activist. His book Baby and Child Care (1946) is one of the best-selling books of the 20th century, selling 500,000 copies in the six months after its initial publication and 50 million by the time of Spock's death in 1998.
1975 — David Beckham, English footballer. ↗(51 years ago)more
Sir David Robert Joseph Beckham is an English former professional footballer, the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City F.C.. Primarily a right midfielder and known for his range of passing, crossing ability and set-piece taking, Beckham is considered one of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest set-pie...
Notable deaths
1519 — Leonardo da Vinci, Italian polymath. ↗(507 years ago)more
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially rested on his achievements as a painter, he has also become known for his notebooks, in which he made drawings and notes on a variety of subjects, includin...
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (123) | 3 × 41 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (243) | 3^5 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 02052026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +15.51° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 49 days |