October 21
October 21 is the 295th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 71 days remain until the year's end. It falls in autumn (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Libra.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On October 21 the Sun's declination is approximately -12.1°. 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 October 21.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Armed Forces Day (Honduras)
- Christian feast day: Céline of Laon
- Christian feast day: Blessed Charles of Austria (Roman Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: Fintán of Taghmon
- Christian feast day: Hilarion
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
- 2021 — A shooting occurs on the set of the film Rust, in which actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop weapon which had been loaded, killing the director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, and injuring director Joel Souza. ↗(5 years ago)
more
On October 21, 2021, at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Bonanza City, New Mexico, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot and director Joel Souza was injured on the set of the film Rust when a live round was discharged from a revolver that actor Alec Baldwin was using as a prop.
2019 — Thirty people are killed in a fiery bus crash in western Democratic Republic of the Congo. ↗(7 years ago)more
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo or less often Zaire, is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is the second-largest country in Africa and the 11th-largest in the world.
2019 — In Canada, the 2019 Canadian federal election ends, resulting in incumbent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remaining in office, albeit with the Liberal Party in a minority government. ↗(7 years ago)more
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the second-largest country by total area, with the longest coastline of any country. Its border with the United States is the longest international land border.
2018 — A passenger train derails in Yilan County, Taiwan, killing 18 people and injuring 187. ↗(8 years ago)more
On 21 October 2018, a passenger train derailed in Yilan County, Taiwan, killing 18 people and injuring 187. At the time, it was Taiwan's deadliest rail accident since a collision near Miaoli in 1991 that killed 30 people.
2011 — Iraq War: President Barack Obama announces that the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq will be complete by the end of the year. ↗(15 years ago)more
The Iraq War, also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a protracted armed conflict in Iraq from 2003 to 2011. It began with the invasion by a United States–led coalition, which resulted in the overthrow of the Ba'athist government of Saddam Hussein.
2003 — Images of the dwarf planet Eris are taken and subsequently used in documenting its discovery. ↗(23 years ago)more
Eris is the most massive and second-largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System. It is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) in the scattered disk and has a high-eccentricity orbit. Eris was discovered in January 2005 by a Palomar Observatory–based team led by Mike Brown and verified later that year.
1994 — North Korea and the United States sign an Agreed Framework that requires North Korea to stop its nuclear weapons program and agree to inspections. ↗(32 years ago)more
The Agreed Framework between the United States of America and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Korean: 북미제네바기본합의서) was signed on 21 October 1994, between North Korea (DPRK) and the United States.
1994 — In Seoul, South Korea, 32 people are killed when a span of the Seongsu Bridge collapses. ↗(32 years ago)more
The Seongsu Bridge disaster was a deadly bridge collapse that occurred on the morning of October 21, 1994 in Seoul, South Korea. 32 people died and 17 were injured when a section of the upper truss of the Seongsu Bridge collapsed onto the Han River.
1989 — In Honduras, 131 people are killed when a Boeing 727 crashes on approach to Toncontín International Airport near the nation's capital Tegucigalpa. ↗(37 years ago)more
Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, and to the north by the Gulf of Honduras, a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea.
1987 — The Jaffna hospital massacre is carried out by Indian peacekeeping forces in Sri Lanka, killing 70 Tamil patients, doctors and nurses. ↗(39 years ago)more
The Jaffna hospital massacre occurred on October 21 and 22, 1987, during the Sri Lankan Civil War, when troops of the Indian Peace Keeping Force entered the premises of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, an island nation in South Asia, and killed between 60 and 70 patients and staff.
- 1986 — In Lebanon, pro-Iran kidnappers claim to have abducted American writer Edward Tracy (he is released in August 1991). ↗(40 years ago)
more
The Lebanon hostage crisis was the kidnapping in Lebanon of 104 foreign hostages between 1982 and 1992, when the Lebanese Civil War was at its height. The hostages were mostly Americans and Western Europeans, but 21 national origins were represented.
1984 — Niki Lauda claims his third and final Formula One Drivers' Championship Title by half a point ahead of McLaren team-mate Alain Prost at the Portuguese Grand Prix. ↗(42 years ago)more
Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda was an Austrian racing driver, motorsport executive, and aviation entrepreneur, who competed in Formula One from 1971 to 1979 and from 1982 to 1985. Lauda won three Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles and—at the time of his retirement—held the record for most podium finishes (54); he won 25 Grands Prix across 13 se...
Notable births
1995 — Cameron Burgess, Scottish-Australian footballer ↗(31 years ago)more
Cameron Robert Burgess is a professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship club Swansea City. Born in Scotland, he represents the Australia national team.
1995 — Doja Cat, American rapper, singer and songwriter ↗(31 years ago)more
Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, known professionally as Doja Cat, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Regarded as the "Queen of Pop-Rap", she is known for her musical versatility, live performing skills and humorous internet presence.
1993 — Kane Brown, American singer and songwriter ↗(33 years ago)more
Kane Allen Brown is an American country music singer and songwriter. First garnering a mass following on social media, he released his debut extended play (EP) Closer in June 2015, and followed it up with the single, "Used to Love You Sober" in October of that year.
1992 — Natasha Bassett, Australian actress ↗(34 years ago)more
Natasha Bassett is an Australian actress and screenwriter born in Sydney, New South Wales.
1992 — Marzia Kjellberg, Italian businessperson and former YouTuber ↗(34 years ago)more
Marzia Kjellberg, formerly known as CutiePieMarzia, is an Italian former YouTuber known for her beauty videos. She parlayed her popularity on YouTube into writing, fashion design, and business ventures. She announced her retirement from YouTube in 2018 and deleted her content.
Notable deaths
2025 — Francisco Pinto Balsemão, Portuguese politician, former Prime Minister of Portugal (born 1937) ↗(1 years ago)more
Francisco José Pereira Pinto Balsemão was a Portuguese businessman, journalist, and politician, who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1981 to 1983.
2024 — Mimi Hines, Canadian singer and comedian (born 1933) ↗(2 years ago)more
Mimi Hines was a Canadian actress, singer, and comedian, best known for her appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show and her work on Broadway. She succeeded Barbra Streisand in the original production of Funny Girl.
2023 — Bobby Charlton, English footballer and manager (born 1937) ↗(3 years ago)more
Sir Robert Charlton was an English footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, left winger or centre-forward. Widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, he was a member of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the year he also won the Ballon d'Or. He finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting in 1967 and 1968.
2023 — Bobi, Portuguese dog (born 1992) ↗(3 years ago)more
Bobi was a male purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo dog cared for by Leonel Costa of Conqueiros, Leiria, Portugal. Bobi was claimed by his caretaker to be the oldest dog to ever live and the first dog on record to reach 30 years.
2023 — Bill Hayden, Australian politician, 21st Governor General of Australia (born 1933) ↗(3 years ago)more
William George Hayden was an Australian politician who served as the 21st governor-general of Australia from 1989 to 1996. He was Leader of the Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1977 to 1983, and served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1983 to 1988 under Bob Hawke and as Treasurer of Australia in 1975 under Gough Whitlam.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (295) | 5 × 59 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (71) | 71 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 21102026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -12.10° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 60 days |