May 20
May 20 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 225 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 20 the Sun's declination is approximately +20.1°. 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 20.
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.
325 — The First Council of Nicaea was convened by Roman Emperor Constantine I. ↗(1701 years ago)more
The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in the Bithynian city of Nicaea by the Roman Emperor Constantine I. The Council of Nicaea met from May until the end of July 325.
1498 — Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut, India. ↗(528 years ago)more
Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese mariner, explorer and nobleman. His discovery of the first direct maritime route between Europe and India via the Cape of Good Hope and across the Indian Ocean from Malindi in Kenya to Kozhikode was to open up European exploration of, and commerce with, India, and is considered a landmark event and a turning point in world h...
1873 — Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis received a U.S. patent for blue jeans with copper rivets. ↗(153 years ago)more
Levi Strauss & Co. is an American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. It was founded in May 1852 when German-Jewish immigrant Levi Strauss moved from New York City, New York, to San Francisco, California, to open a West Coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business.
1927 — Charles Lindbergh took off from New York's Roosevelt Field on the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight. ↗(99 years ago)more
The Spirit of St. Louis is the custom-built, single-engine, single-seat, high-wing monoplane that Charles Lindbergh flew on May 20–21, 1927, on the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight from Long Island, New York, to Paris, France, for which Lindbergh won the $25,000 Orteig Prize.
1990 — The Hubble Space Telescope sent back its first photographs. ↗(36 years ago)more
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It was not the first space telescope, but it is one of the largest and most versatile, renowned as a vital research tool and as a public relations boon for astronomy.
Notable births
1799 — Honoré de Balzac, French novelist. ↗(227 years ago)more
Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright. The novel sequence La Comédie humaine, described as a panorama of post-Napoleonic French life, is generally viewed as his magnum opus.
1908 — James Stewart, American actor. ↗(118 years ago)more
James Maitland Stewart was an American actor and military aviator. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart appeared in 80 films from 1935 to 1991. His films are considered some of the greatest films of all time.
1944 — Joe Cocker, English rock singer. ↗(82 years ago)more
John Robert "Joe" Cocker was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were interpretations of songs written by others, such as "Feelin' Alright" and "Unchain My Heart", though Cocker composed original songs for most of his albums as well, oft...
Notable deaths
1506 — Christopher Columbus, Italian explorer. ↗(520 years ago)more
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish transatlantic voyages in the name of the Catholic Monarchs, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (141) | 3 × 47 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (225) | 3^2 × 5^2 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 20052026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +20.13° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 31 days |