October 7
October 7 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 85 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 7 the Sun's declination is approximately -7.0°. 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 7.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christian feast day: Justina of Padua
- Christian feast day: Henry Muhlenberg (some Lutheran Churches, Episcopal Church of the USA)
- Christian feast day: Osgyth
- Christian feast day: Our Lady of the Rosary
- Christian feast day: Pope Mark
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2023 — Hamas and several other Palestinian militant groups launch an attack into Israel, which results in the deaths of around 1,200, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages, including civilians and soldiers. The attack initiated the Gaza war and the larger Middle Eastern crisis. ↗(3 years ago)more
The Islamic Resistance Movement, abbreviated Hamas, is a Sunni Islamist Palestinian nationalist political organisation with a military wing known as the al-Qassam Brigades. It has governed the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip since 2007.
2022 — Ten people are killed and eight are injured in an explosion at petrol station in Creeslough, Ireland. ↗(4 years ago)more
The Creeslough explosion occurred on 7 October 2022 at an apartment above Applegreen petrol station in Creeslough, a village in north County Donegal, Ireland. It killed ten people and left eight hospitalised; the highest number of civilian casualties in the county in decades. Investigators suspected an accidental gas leak.
2022 — Ales Bialiatski, along with two organisations, Memorial & Center for Civil Liberties, are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. ↗(4 years ago)more
Ales Viktaravich Bialiatski is a Belarusian human rights defender, pro-democracy activist, and writer. He is chair of the Viasna Human Rights Centre. He was held as a prisoner of conscience. An activist for Belarusian independence and democracy since the early 1980s, Bialiatski is a founding member of Viasna and the Belarusian Popular Front, serving as le...
2016 — In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the death toll rises to over 800. ↗(10 years ago)more
Hurricane Matthew was a powerful and devastating tropical cyclone which caused catastrophic damage and a humanitarian crisis in Haiti, as well as widespread devastation across Cuba, the Bahamas, and the southeastern United States.
2008 — Asteroid 2008 TC3 impacts the Earth over Sudan, the first time an asteroid impact is detected prior to its entry into Earth's atmosphere. ↗(18 years ago)more
2008 TC3 (Catalina Sky Survey temporary designation 8TA9D69) was an 80-tonne (80-long-ton; 90-short-ton), 4.1-meter (13 ft) diameter asteroid that entered Earth's atmosphere on October 7, 2008. It exploded at an estimated 37 kilometers (23 mi) above the Nubian Desert in Sudan.
2008 — Qantas Flight 72 experiences an in-flight upset near Learmonth, Victoria, Australia, injuring 112. ↗(18 years ago)more
Qantas Flight 72 (QF72) was a scheduled flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Perth Airport by an Airbus A330. On 7 October 2008, the flight made an emergency landing at Learmonth Airport near the town of Exmouth, Western Australia, following an in-flight upset that included a pair of sudden, uncommanded pitch-down manoeuvres that caused severe injuries...
2004 — Three bombs explode at Taba and Nuweiba in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, killing 34. ↗(22 years ago)more
The 2004 Sinai bombings were three bomb attacks targeting tourist hotels in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, on 7 October 2004. The attacks left 34 people dead and 171 injured.
2002 — The Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-112 to continue assembly of the International Space Station. ↗(24 years ago)more
Space Shuttle Atlantis is a retired Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle which belongs to NASA, the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States. Atlantis was manufactured by the Rockwell International company in Southern California and was delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Eastern Florida in April 1985.
2001 — The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan begins with an air assault and covert operations on the ground, starting the longest war in American history. ↗(25 years ago)more
Shortly after the September 11 attacks in 2001, the United States declared the war on terror and subsequently led a multinational military operation against Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The stated goal was to dismantle al-Qaeda, which had executed the attacks under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, and to deny Islamist militants a safe base of operations i...
2000 — Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Hezbollah militants capture three Israeli Defense Force soldiers in a cross-border raid. ↗(26 years ago)more
Israel and the Palestinians are engaged in an ongoing military and political conflict about land and self-determination within the former territory of Mandatory Palestine. Key aspects of the conflict have included Palestinian refugees, the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the status of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, borders, security, ...
1996 — Fox News Channel begins broadcasting. ↗(30 years ago)more
The Fox News Channel (FNC), often referred to as Fox News, is an American multinational conservative news and political commentary television channel and website based in New York City. Owned by the Fox News Media subsidiary of Fox Corporation, it is the most-watched cable news network in the United States, and as of 2023, it generates approximately 70% o...
1993 — The flood of '93 ends at St. Louis, Missouri, 103 days after it began, as the Mississippi River falls below flood stage. ↗(33 years ago)more
The Great Flood of 1993 was a flood that occurred in the Midwestern United States, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993.
Notable births
2002 — Joaquín Panichelli, Argentine footballer ↗(24 years ago)more
Joaquín Panichelli is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Strasbourg and the Argentina national team.
2001 — Princess Senate Seeiso, Princess of Lesotho ↗(25 years ago)more
Princess Senate Mohato Seeiso is a princess of Lesotho, the eldest child of King Letsie III of Lesotho and his wife Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso.
1999 — Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Turkish footballer ↗(27 years ago)more
Ferdi Erenay Kadıoğlu is a professional footballer who plays as a full back, midfielder or winger for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Turkey national team.
1998 — Trent Alexander-Arnold, English footballer ↗(28 years ago)more
Trent John Alexander-Arnold, sometimes known mononymously as Trent, is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back or midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid and the England national team. Considered one of the best right-backs in the world, he is known for his range of passing, crossing and assists, as well as his set-piece taking ability.
1998 — Ryan Trahan, American YouTuber ↗(28 years ago)more
Ryan Michael Trahan is an American YouTuber, vlogger, and businessman. He is best known for his "penny series", which he has done several times since 2017, where he has 30 days to travel using only a penny.
1997 — Kira Kosarin, American actress and singer ↗(29 years ago)more
Kira Nicole Kosarin is an American actress and singer, known for her role as Phoebe Thunderman on the Nickelodeon series The Thundermans. She reprised the role in the film The Thundermans Return (2024) and in the spin-off series The Thundermans: Undercover (2025–present).
Notable deaths
2024 — Cissy Houston, American singer (born 1933) ↗(2 years ago)more
Emily "Cissy" Houston was an American soul and gospel singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Houston began singing with three of her siblings in a family gospel group, the Drinkard Singers. By the early 1960s, Houston had begun a career as a session vocalist for several secular musicians in the rhythm and blues, soul, rock and roll, and pop genres.
2024 — Arie L. Kopelman, American businessman (born 1938) ↗(2 years ago)more
Arie Leonard Kopelman was an American businessman and philanthropist. He served as the President and COO of Chanel from 1986 until 2004, when he retired and was succeeded by former Banana Republic President Maureen Chiquet. He remained at Chanel as Vice Chairman of the Board until 2008.
2024 — Zaw Myint Maung, Burmese politician, physician and former political prisoner (born 1951) ↗(2 years ago)more
Zaw Myint Maung was a Burmese politician, physician and political prisoner who served as Chief Minister of Mandalay Region and Mandalay Region MP for Amarapura Township.
2024 — Lore Segal, American novelist (born 1928) ↗(2 years ago)more
Lore Vailer Segal was an Austrian-American novelist, translator, teacher, short story writer, and author of children's books. She was the author of five novels, and was known for her autobiographical fiction, drawing on her life as an Austrian Jewish refugee who fled to the United Kingdom as a child, growing up in England before settling in the United Sta...
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks ↗(3 years ago)
more
Lior Asulin was an Israeli footballer who played as a striker. He was murdered during the Nova music festival massacre, which led to the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (281) | 281 · prime |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (85) | 5 × 17 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 07102026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -6.95° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 74 days |