September 3
September 3 is the 247th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 119 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 3 the Sun's declination is approximately +6.6°. At this latitude the Sun is north of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere longer 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 3.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christian feast day: Mansuetus of Toul
- Christian feast day: Marinus
- Christian feast day: Pope Gregory I
- Christian feast day: Remaclus
- Christian feast day: Prudence Crandall (Episcopal Church (USA))
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2017 — North Korea conducts its sixth and most powerful nuclear test. ↗(9 years ago)more
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu (Amnok) and Tumen rivers, and South Korea to the south at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
2016 — The U.S. and China, together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions, both formally ratify the Paris global climate agreement. ↗(10 years ago)more
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the second-most populous country after India, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, representing 17% of the world's population.
2010 — After taking off from Dubai International Airport, UPS Airlines Flight 6 develops an in-flight fire in the cargo hold and crashes near Nad Al Sheba, killing both crew members on board. ↗(16 years ago)more
Dubai International Airport is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic as of 2024. It is also the busiest airport in the Middle East as of 2024, the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic as of 2024, the busiest airport for Airbus A380 an...
- 2004 — Beslan school siege results in over 330 fatalities, including 186 children. ↗(22 years ago)
more
The Beslan school siege, also referred to as the Beslan school hostage crisis or the Beslan massacre, was a terrorist attack that occurred from 1 September 2004 to 3 September 2004. It lasted three days, and involved the imprisonment of more than 1,100 people as hostages, including 777 children, ending with the deaths of 334 people, 186 of them children, ...
2001 — In Belfast, Protestant loyalists begin a picket of Holy Cross, a Catholic primary school for girls. ↗(25 years ago)more
Belfast is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel. It is the largest city in Northern Ireland and the second-largest city in Ireland, with an estimated population of 352,390 in 2024, and its metropolitan area has a populatio...
1997 — Vietnam Airlines Flight 815 (Tupolev Tu-134) crashes on approach into Phnom Penh airport, killing 64. ↗(29 years ago)more
Vietnam Airlines is the flag carrier of Vietnam. The airline was founded in 1956 and later established as a state-owned enterprise in April 1989. Vietnam Airlines is headquartered in Long Biên district, Hanoi, with hubs at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
1989 — Cubana de Aviación Flight 9046 crashes into a residential area of Havana shortly after takeoff from José Martí International Airport, killing 150. ↗(37 years ago)more
Cubana de Aviación Flight 9046 was a chartered Ilyushin Il-62M airliner operated by Cubana, which crashed on 3 September 1989, shortly after takeoff from José Martí International Airport.
1989 — Varig Flight 254 crashes in the Amazon rainforest near São José do Xingu in Brazil, killing 12. ↗(37 years ago)more
Varig Flight 254 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from São Paulo, Brazil, to Belém, capital city of the state of Pará in the country's North Region. On 3 September 1989, the Boeing 737 operating this flight had several intermediate stopovers, the last being in Marabá, Pará.
1987 — In a coup d'état in Burundi, President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza is deposed by Major Pierre Buyoya. ↗(39 years ago)more
The 1987 Burundian coup d'état was a bloodless military coup that took place in Burundi on 3 September 1987. Tutsi president Jean-Baptiste Bagaza was deposed whilst traveling abroad and succeeded by Tutsi Major Pierre Buyoya.
1981 — The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, an international bill of rights for women, is instituted by the United Nations. ↗(45 years ago)more
The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly. Described as an international bill of rights for women, it was instituted on 3 September 1981 and has been ratified by 189 states.
1978 — During the Rhodesian Bush War a group of ZIPRA guerrillas shot down civilian Vickers Viscount aircraft (Air Rhodesia Flight 825) with a Soviet-made SAM Strela-2; of 56 passengers and crew 38 people died in crash, 10 were massacred by the guerrillas at the site. ↗(48 years ago)more
The Rhodesian Bush War, also known as the Rhodesian Civil War, Second Chimurenga and the Zimbabwe War of Independence, was a civil conflict from July 1964 to December 1979 in the unrecognised state of Rhodesia.
1976 — Viking program: The American Viking 2 spacecraft lands at Utopia Planitia on Mars. ↗(50 years ago)more
The Viking program consisted of a pair of identical American space probes, Viking 1 and Viking 2 both launched in 1975, and landed on Mars in 1976. The mission effort began in 1968 and was managed by the NASA Langley Research Center.
Notable births
2010 — Tanitoluwa Adewumi, Nigerian-American chess player ↗(16 years ago)more
Tanitoluwa Emmanuel "Tani" Adewumi is a Nigerian-American chess player who currently holds the title of International Master (IM). A chess prodigy, he won the 2019 K-3 New York State chess championship at the age of 8 after having played the game for only a year while living with his refugee family in a homeless shelter in Manhattan.
2003 — Jack Dylan Grazer, American actor ↗(23 years ago)more
Jack Dylan Grazer is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the horror film It (2017) and its 2019 sequel, the DC Extended Universe superhero film Shazam! (2019) and its 2023 sequel, and for his voice role in the Pixar animated film Luca (2021).
2001 — Kaia Gerber, American model and actress ↗(25 years ago)more
Kaia Jordan Gerber is an American model and actress. After starring in a series of ad campaigns for fashion brands since debuting at Fashion Week in 2017, Gerber won Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2018. As an actress, she has appeared in supporting roles in the films Bottoms (2023) and Saturday Night (2024).
2000 — Brandon Williams, English footballer ↗(26 years ago)more
Brandon Paul Brian Williams is an English professional footballer who last played for EFL Championship club Hull City. Although he mainly plays as a left-back, he has also been used as a right-back.
1999 — Rich Brian, Indonesian rapper and singer ↗(27 years ago)more
Brian Imanuel Soewarno, known professionally as Rich Brian (formerly Rich Chigga), is an Indonesian rapper and singer. He is known for his viral debut single "Dat $tick", which was first released in March 2016 on SoundCloud. The single was later certified gold by RIAA.
- 1998 — Oskar Seuntjens, Belgian politician ↗(28 years ago)
more
Oskar H. F. Seuntjens is a Belgian politician and member of the Chamber of Representatives. A member of Vooruit, he has represented Antwerp since June 2024.
Notable deaths
2024 — Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun, Scottish peer (born 1930) ↗(2 years ago)more
Flora Marjorie Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun, was a Scottish noblewoman and Crossbench peer. Until her retirement on 12 December 2014, she was the only holder of a lordship of Parliament with a seat in the House of Lords as an elected hereditary peer.
2024 — Wayne Graham, American baseball player and coach (born 1936) ↗(2 years ago)more
Wayne Leon Graham was an American college baseball head coach. He is known for being the head baseball coach for the Rice Owls in Houston, Texas. He coached one College World Series championship team and five NJCAA World Series championship teams.
- 2024 — Charley Johnson, American football player (born 1938) ↗(2 years ago)
more
Charley Lane Johnson was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the New Mexico State Aggies. Johnson played in the NFL for 15 years with three teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, and Denver Broncos.
2017 — Walter Becker, American musician, songwriter, and record producer (born 1950) ↗(9 years ago)more
Walter Carl Becker was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was the co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter of the jazz rock band Steely Dan.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (247) | 13 × 19 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (119) | 7 × 17 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 03092026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +6.57° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 75 days |