September 20
September 20 is the 264th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 102 days remain until the year's end. It falls in summer (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Virgo.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On September 20 the Sun's declination is approximately -0.2°. 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 September 20.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christian feast day: Agapitus (Western Christianity)
- Christian feast day: Eustace (Western Christianity)
- Christian feast day: Evilasius
- Christian feast day: Fausta of Cyzicus
- Christian feast day: Glycerius of Milan
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2019 — Roughly four million people, mostly students, demonstrate across the world to address climate change. Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden leads the demonstration in New York City. ↗(7 years ago)more
The September 2019 climate strikes, also known as the Global Week for Future, were a series of international strikes and protests to demand action be taken to address climate change, which took place from 20 to 27 September 2019. The strikes' key dates were 20 September, which was three days before the United Nations Climate Summit, and 27 September.
2018 — At least 161 people die after a ferry capsizes close to the pier on Ukara Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. ↗(8 years ago)more
MV Nyerere was a Tanzanian ferry that capsized on 20 September 2018 while travelling between the islands of Ukerewe and Ukara on Lake Victoria. The Tanzanian government have declared that 228 people died as a result of the capsizing while 41 could be rescued.
2017 — Hurricane Maria makes landfall in Puerto Rico as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, resulting in 2,975 deaths, US$90 billion in damage, and a major humanitarian crisis. ↗(9 years ago)more
Hurricane Maria was an extremely powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone that affected the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which accounted for 2,975 of the 3,059 deaths.
2011 — The United States military ends its 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time. ↗(15 years ago)more
"Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on military service of homosexual people for a period of over 17 years, starting in the mid-1990s. Instituted during the presidency of Bill Clinton, the policy was issued under Department of Defense Directive 1304.26 on December 21, 1993, and was in effect from February 28, 1994, until S...
2008 — A dump truck full of explosives detonates in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others. ↗(18 years ago)more
The Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing occurred on the night of 20 September 2008, when a dumper truck filled with explosives was detonated in front of the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, killing at least 54 people, injuring at least 266 and leaving a 60 ft (18 m) wide, 20 ft (6.1 m) deep crater outside the hotel.
- 2007 — Between 15,000 and 20,000 protesters march on Jena, Louisiana, United States, in support of six black youths who had been convicted of assaulting a white classmate. ↗(19 years ago)
more
The Jena Six were six black teenagers in Jena, Louisiana, United States, convicted in the 2006 beating of Justin Barker, a white student at the local Jena High School, which they also attended. Barker was injured on December 4, 2006, by the members of the Jena Six, and received treatment at an emergency room.
2003 — Civil unrest in the Maldives breaks out after a prisoner is killed by guards. ↗(23 years ago)more
On Saturday September 20, 2003 civil unrest broke out in Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. This unrest was provoked by the death of Hassan Evan Naseem at Maafushi Prison – located on a separate inhabited island – and the subsequent shooting at the same prison, that killed 3 and injured 17 others.
2001 — In an address to a joint session of Congress and the American people, U.S. President George W. Bush declares a 'war on terror'. ↗(25 years ago)more
The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is a global military campaign initiated by the United States in response to the September 11 attacks in 2001. A global conflict spanning multiple wars, some researchers and political scientists have argued that it replaced the Cold War.
- 2000 — The United Kingdom's MI6 Secret Intelligence Service building is attacked by individuals using a Russian-built RPG-22 anti-tank missile. ↗(26 years ago)
more
On Wednesday 20 September 2000, the Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) carried out an attack on MI6's SIS Building headquarters in Vauxhall, Lambeth, London. A Russian-built RPG-22 anti-tank rocket, fired 300 metres away from MI6 headquarters, struck the building on the south side of the eighth floor, causing superficial damage.
1990 — South Ossetia declares its independence from Georgia. ↗(36 years ago)more
South Ossetia, formally known as the State of Alania since 2017, or originally the Republic of South Ossetia is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus. It has an officially stated population of just over 56,500 people (2022), who live in an area of 3,900 square kilometres (1,500 sq mi), with 33,000 living in the capital city, Tskhinvali.
1989 — USAir Flight 5050 crashes into Bowery Bay during a rejected takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, killing two people. ↗(37 years ago)more
USAir Flight 5050 was a passenger flight that crashed on takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. As the plane took off from LaGuardia's runway 31, the plane drifted to the left. After hearing a loud bang, the pilots attempted to reject the takeoff, but were unable to stop the plane short of the end of the runway.
1984 — A suicide bomber in a car attacks the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing twenty-two people. ↗(42 years ago)more
On September 20, 1984, the Shi'a Islamic militant group Hezbollah, with support and direction from the Islamic Republic of Iran, carried out a suicide car bombing targeting the US embassy annex in East Beirut, Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War. The attack killed 23 people and 1 attacker.
Notable births
2003 — Thomas Matthew Crooks, American attempted assassin of Donald Trump (died 2024) ↗(23 years ago)more
Thomas Matthew Crooks was an American man who attempted to assassinate then-former U.S. president Donald Trump, who at the time was the presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election.
1998 — Trevon Diggs, American football player ↗(28 years ago)more
Trevon De'Sean Diggs is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. He is the younger brother of professional wide receiver, Stefon Diggs.
1997 — Itamar Einhorn, Israeli Olympic cyclist ↗(29 years ago)more
Itamar Einhorn is an Israeli cyclist, who currently rides for UCI ProTeam NSN Cycling Team. In 2022 and 2023, he won the Israeli National Road Race Championships. Einhorn represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics in cycling in the Men's individual road race at Pont d'Iéna.
1995 — Laura Dekker, Dutch sailor ↗(31 years ago)more
Laura Dekker is a Dutch sailor. In 2009, she announced her plan to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed. A Dutch court stepped in, owing to the objections of the local authorities, and prevented Laura from departing while under shared custody of both her parents.
1995 — Sammi Hanratty, American actress ↗(31 years ago)more
Samantha Lynn Hanratty is an American actress. Her first lead was in 2009, portraying Chrissa Maxwell in An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong. In 2011, she played the role Whitney Brown in the film The Greening of Whitney Brown. Hanratty is considered a Celebrity Friend for the Starlight Children's Foundation.
Notable deaths
2025 — Matt Beard, English football manager (born 1978) ↗(1 years ago)more
Matthew Beard was an English professional football coach. Active primarily in women's football, he managed Millwall, Chelsea, Liverpool, Boston Breakers, West Ham United, Bristol City, and Burnley.
2024 — Ibrahim Aqil, Hezbollah militant (born 1962) ↗(2 years ago)more
Ibrahim Aqil was a Lebanese militant leader who served as commander-in-chief of Hezbollah's special operations unit, the Radwan Force. He was a member of the Jihad Council, which oversees the military operations of the organisation. Some considered Aqil as the de facto Chief of Staff of Hezbollah.
2024 — Kathryn Crosby, American actress and singer (born 1933) ↗(2 years ago)more
Olive Kathryn Crosby was an American actress and singer who performed in films, primarily under the stage name Kathryn Grant. She married Bing Crosby in 1957 and subsequently appeared on television with him and hosted a talk show, The Kathryn Crosby Show, on which he occasionally appeared, before returning to acting after his death.
2024 — Daniel J. Evans, American politician, 16th Governor of Washington (born 1925) ↗(2 years ago)more
Daniel Jackson "Dan" Evans Sr. was an American politician from Washington. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives representing Washington's 43rd legislative district from 1957 to 1965, the 16th Governor of Washington from 1965 to 1977, and later served in the United States Senate from 1983 to 1989.
2024 — Sayuri, Japanese musician (born 1996) ↗(2 years ago)more
Sayuri was a Japanese musician, singer and songwriter. After winning the Music Revolution Grand Prix in 2012, she left school and started her music career. In 2015, she released her debut single "Mikazuki", the ending theme of Rampo Kitan: Game of Laplace, and she later sang theme songs for the anime series Erased, Scum's Wish, Fate/Extra Last Encore, Go...
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (264) | 2^3 × 3 × 11 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (102) | 2 × 3 × 17 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 20092026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -0.20° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 91 days |