October 8
October 8 is the 282nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 84 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 8 the Sun's declination is approximately -7.3°. 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 8.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christian feast day: Evodus (or Yves)
- Christian feast day: Palatias and Laurentia
- Christian feast day: Pelagia (Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches)
- Christian feast day: Reparata
- Christian feast day: San Ernesto, Che Guevara as a folk saint. (Bolivian campesinos)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2020 — Second Nagorno-Karabakh War: Azerbaijan twice deliberately targeted the Church of the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots of Shusha. ↗(6 years ago)more
The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict in 2020 that took place in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding occupied territories. It was a major escalation of an unresolved conflict over the region, involving Azerbaijan, Armenia and the self-declared Armenian breakaway state of Artsakh.
2019 — About 200 Extinction Rebellion activists block the gates of Leinster House (parliament) in the Republic of Ireland. ↗(7 years ago)more
Extinction Rebellion is a UK-founded global environmental movement, with the stated aim of using nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action to avoid tipping points in the climate system, biodiversity loss, and the risk of social and ecological collapse.
2016 — In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the death toll rises to nearly 900. ↗(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.
- 2014 — Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person in the United States to be diagnosed with Ebola, dies. ↗(12 years ago)
more
Thomas Eric Duncan was a Liberian citizen who became the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States on September 30, 2014.
2005 — The 7.6 Mw Kashmir earthquake leaves 86,000–87,351 people dead, 69,000–75,266 injured, and 2.8 million homeless. ↗(21 years ago)more
An earthquake occurred at 08:50:39 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, a territory under Pakistan. Its epicenter was 19 km northeast of the city of Muzaffarabad, and 90 km north north-east of Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and also affected nearby Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some areas of Jammu and Kashmir, ...
2001 — A twin engine Cessna and a Scandinavian Airlines System jetliner collide in heavy fog during takeoff from Milan, Italy, killing 118 people. ↗(25 years ago)more
The Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), commonly known as Scandinavian Airlines, is the joint flag carrier airline of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It is part of SAS Group and is headquartered in Solna, Sweden.
2001 — U.S. president George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security. ↗(25 years ago)more
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, comparable to interior ministries abroad. Its missions involve anti-terrorism, civil defense, immigration and customs, border control, cybersecurity, transportation security, maritime security and sea rescue, and the mitigation...
1991 — Upon the expiration of the Brioni Agreement, Croatia and Slovenia sever all official relations with Yugoslavia. ↗(35 years ago)more
The Brioni Agreement, also known as the Brioni Declaration is a document signed by representatives of Slovenia, Croatia, and Yugoslavia under the political sponsorship of the European Community (EC) on the Brijuni Islands on 7 July 1991. The agreement sought to create an environment in which further negotiations on the future of Yugoslavia could take place.
1990 — First Intifada: Israeli police kill 17 Palestinians and wound over 100 near the Dome of the Rock. ↗(36 years ago)more
The First Intifada, also known as the First Palestinian Intifada, was a sustained uprising involving violent and non-violent protests, acts of civil disobedience, riots, and terrorist attacks carried out by Palestinian civilians and militants in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
- 1986 — An explosion occurred at the Cipel-Marco fur factory in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, killing 14 and injuring 10. ↗(40 years ago)
more
On 8 October 1986, an explosion occurred at the Cipel-Marco fur factory located on the third floor of Wing Loi Industrial Building on Wing Lap Street, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong. The explosion was followed by a massive fire, which ultimately resulted in 14 deaths and 10 injuries. It is one of the most significant industrial accidents in Hong Kong's history.
1982 — Poland bans Solidarity and all other trade unions. ↗(44 years ago)more
Solidarity, full name Independent Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarity", is a Polish trade union founded in August 1980 at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland. Subsequently, it was the first independent trade union in a Warsaw Pact country to be recognised by the state.
1978 — Australia's Ken Warby sets the current world water speed record of 275.97 knots at Blowering Dam, Australia. ↗(48 years ago)more
Ken Warby was an Australian motorboat racer, who at his death held the water speed record of 275.97 knots, set on Blowering Dam on 8 October 1978.
Notable births
2003 — Ángela Aguilar, Mexican-American singer ↗(23 years ago)more
Ángela Aguilar Álvarez is a Mexican and American singer. She was born in Los Angeles while her mother was accompanying her father, Pepe Aguilar, on tour. Aguilar gained notable recognition after performing "La Llorona" at the 19th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2018.
2002 — Brian Thomas Jr., American football player ↗(24 years ago)more
Brian Thomas Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, leading the FBS in touchdown receptions in 2023. Thomas was selected by the Jaguars in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
2002 — Zheng Qinwen, Chinese tennis player ↗(24 years ago)more
Zheng Qinwen is a Chinese professional tennis player. She has been ranked world No. 4 by the WTA, achieved in June 2025, and is only the second Chinese player to reach the top 5 in women's singles after Li Na.
1999 — Putthipong Assaratanakul, Thai actor and singer ↗(27 years ago)more
Putthipong Assaratanakul, nicknamed Billkin, is a Thai actor and singer. He is known for his roles as Tao in My Ambulance (2019), as Teh in I Told Sunset About You (2020) and I Promised You the Moon (2021), and as M in How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024).
1997 — Bella Thorne, American actress ↗(29 years ago)more
Annabella Avery Thorne is an American actress, singer, and writer. She first received recognition for her roles as Margaux Darling in the series Dirty Sexy Money (2007–2008) and as Ruthy Spivey in the drama series My Own Worst Enemy (2009), the latter of which earned her a Young Artist Award.
Notable deaths
2025 — Miguel Ángel Russo, Argentine footballer and manager (born 1956) ↗(1 years ago)more
Miguel Ángel Russo was an Argentine professional football player and manager who played as a defensive midfielder. As a player, Russo spent his entire career in Estudiantes de La Plata. As a manager, he coached for over 1,000 matches within more than 30 years of career.
- 2024 — Pat Fischer, American football player (born 1940) ↗(2 years ago)
more
Patrick Fischer was an American professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1961 to 1967, and the Washington Redskins from 1968 to 1977. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
2024 — Tim Johnson, American lawyer and politician (born 1946) ↗(2 years ago)more
Timothy Peter Johnson was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from South Dakota from 1997 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the United States representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district from 1987 to 1997 and in the South Dakota Legislature from 1979 to 1987.
2024 — Luis Tiant, Cuban baseball player (born 1940) ↗(2 years ago)more
Luis Clemente Tiant Vega, nicknamed "El Tiante", was a Cuban professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 19 years, primarily for the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox.
2020 — Whitey Ford, American professional baseball pitcher (born 1928) ↗(6 years ago)more
Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford, nicknamed "the Chairman of the Board", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played his entire 16-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. He was a 10-time All-Star and six-time World Series champion. In 1961, he won both the Cy Young Award and World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (282) | 2 × 3 × 47 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (84) | 2^2 × 3 × 7 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 08102026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -7.34° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 73 days |