November 17
November 17 is the 322nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 44 days remain until the year's end. It falls in autumn (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Scorpio.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On November 17 the Sun's declination is approximately -19.8°. 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 November 17.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Athens Polytechnic Uprising Remembrance Day (Greece)
- Christian feast days: Acisclus
- Christian feast days: Aignan of Orleans
- Christian feast days: Elizabeth of Hungary
- Christian feast days: Gennadius of Constantinople (Greek Orthodox Church)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2019 — The first known case of COVID-19 is traced to a 55-year-old man who had visited a market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. ↗(7 years ago)more
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Starting in January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global health emergency; they declared the end of the emergency in May 2023.
2013 — Fifty people are killed when Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363 crashes at Kazan Airport, Russia. ↗(13 years ago)more
Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight, operated by Tatarstan Airlines on behalf of Ak Bars Aero, from Moscow to Kazan, Russia. On 17 November 2013, at 19:24 local time (UTC+4), the Boeing 737-500 crashed during an aborted landing at Kazan International Airport, killing all 44 passengers and 6 crew members on board.
2013 — A rare late-season tornado outbreak strikes the Midwest. Illinois and Indiana are most affected with tornado reports as far north as lower Michigan. In all around six dozen tornadoes touch down in approximately an 11-hour time period, including seven EF3 and two EF4 tornadoes. ↗(13 years ago)more
On November 17, 2013, the deadliest and costliest November tornado outbreak in Illinois history took shape, becoming the fourth-largest for the state overall. With more than 30 tornadoes in Indiana, it was that state's largest tornado outbreak for the month of November, and the second largest outbreak recorded in Indiana.
- 2012 — At least 50 schoolchildren are killed in an accident at a railway crossing near Manfalut, Egypt. ↗(14 years ago)
more
The Manfalut Train-bus collision occurred on 17 November 2012 when a school bus, which was carrying about 70 school children between four and six years old, was hit by a train on a rail crossing near Manfalut, Egypt, 350 km south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. At least 50 children and the bus driver died in the crash, and about 17 people were injured.
2003 — Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's tenure as the governor of California begins. ↗(23 years ago)more
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian and American actor, businessman, politician, and former professional bodybuilder who served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011.
2000 — A catastrophic landslide in Log pod Mangartom, Slovenia, kills seven, and causes millions of SIT of damage. It is one of the worst catastrophes in Slovenia in the past 100 years. ↗(26 years ago)more
Landslides, also known as landslips, rockslips or rockslides, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, mudflows, shallow or deep-seated slope failures and debris flows.
2000 — Alberto Fujimori is removed from office as president of Peru. ↗(26 years ago)more
Alberto Kenya Fujimori Inomoto was a Peruvian politician, professor, and engineer who served as the president of Peru from 1990 to 2000. Born in Lima, Fujimori was the country's first president of Japanese descent, and was an agronomist and university rector prior to entering politics.
1997 — In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by six Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut, known as Luxor massacre. ↗(29 years ago)more
Luxor is a city in Upper Egypt. Luxor had a population of 284,952 in 2023, with an area of 43.0 km2 (16.6 sq mi) and is the capital of the Luxor Governorate. Nicknamed the City of a Hundred Gates or the City of the Sun, formerly known as Thebes. It was one of the capitals of Ancient Egypt.
1993 — United States House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish the North American Free Trade Agreement. ↗(33 years ago)more
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of the U.S. Constitution in enumerated matters to pass or defeat federal legislation, known as bills.
- 1993 — In Nigeria, General Sani Abacha ousts the government of Ernest Shonekan in a military coup. ↗(33 years ago)
more
Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military dictator and statesman who ruled Nigeria as military head of state from 1993, following a palace coup d'état, until his death in 1998.
1990 — Fugendake, part of the Mount Unzen volcanic complex, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, becomes active again and erupts. ↗(36 years ago)more
Mount Unzen is an active stratovolcano of several overlapping small, volcanic cones, near the city of Shimabara, Nagasaki on the island of Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island.
1989 — Cold War: Velvet Revolution begins: In Czechoslovakia, a student demonstration in Prague is quelled by riot police. This sparks an uprising aimed at overthrowing the communist government (it succeeds on December 29). ↗(37 years ago)more
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations against the one-party government of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia included students and older dissidents.
Notable births
2005 — Anna Tanaka, Japanese singer and model ↗(21 years ago)more
Anna Tanaka , known mononymously as Anna (Korean: 안나), is a Japanese singer and model based in South Korea. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Meovv, which debuted in September 2024 under The Black Label.
2004 — Linda Nosková, Czech tennis player ↗(22 years ago)more
Linda Nosková is a Czech professional tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 12 by the WTA, achieved on 5 January 2026, and a doubles ranking of No. 60, set on 19 August 2024. Nosková has won one WTA Tour title, at the 2024 Monterrey Open.
- 2001 — Kate Douglass, American swimmer ↗(25 years ago)
more
Katherine Cadwallader Douglass is an American competitive swimmer. Douglass is a five-time Olympic medalist, including two golds, and has won 34 medals with 16 golds at the World Championships. Since 2024, she has been the world record holder for the short-course 200m breaststroke (SC) as well as being part of the 200 IM record team.
1999 — Gabi Gonçalves, Brazilian politician ↗(27 years ago)more
Gabriela Cristina Gonçalves da Silva Cordeiro, better known as Gabi Gonçalves, is a Brazilian politician. In 2022, she was elected state deputy for Alagoas.
1997 — Dragan Bender, Croatian basketball player ↗(29 years ago)more
Dragan Bender is a Croatian former professional basketball player. He stands 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) and played the power forward and center positions. He was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft but only played four years in the league.
Notable deaths
2024 — Macoto Takahashi, Japanese manga artist (born 1934) ↗(2 years ago)more
Macoto Takahashi was a Japanese painter, illustrator, and manga artist. His works of shōjo manga are noted for significantly influencing the aesthetic styles of that demographics.
2021 — Young Dolph, American rapper (born 1985) ↗(5 years ago)more
Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., known professionally as Young Dolph, was an American rapper, songwriter, and record executive. He first garnered mainstream attention for his guest appearance on O.T. Genasis' 2015 single "Cut It", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
- 2019 — Tuka Rocha, Brazilian race car driver (born 1982) ↗(7 years ago)
more
Christiano "Tuka" Chiaradia Alcoba Rocha was a Brazilian race car driver. He won numerous karting championships in Brazil from 1996 to 2000. Then moved up to South American Formula 3 Lights. In 2002 he moved to Europe to compete in the World Series by Nissan where he was Ricardo Zonta's teammate. In 2004 he competed in Superfund Euro 3000.
- 2015 — John Leahy, English lawyer and diplomat, High Commissioner to Australia (born 1928) ↗(11 years ago)
more
Sir John Henry Gladstone Leahy, was a senior British diplomat. He was Ambassador to South Africa from 1979 to 1982, and High Commissioner to Australia from 1984 to 1988. He later became Chairman of Lonrho.
2015 — Rahim Moeini Kermanshahi, Iranian poet and songwriter (born 1926) ↗(11 years ago)more
Rahim Moeini Kermanshahi was an Iranian poet and lyricist. He is one of the pioneering songwriters in the history of Persian traditional music.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (322) | 2 × 7 × 23 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (44) | 2^2 × 11 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 17112026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -19.81° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 33 days |