Birth chart on this day
Discover the planets positions on August 17th, 1959 as well as what the sky looked like at your place
see horoscope and birth chart for August 17, 1959What happened on Monday, August 17, 1959?
About August 17th, 1959, in brief:
- Historical events: The Hebgen Lake earthquake struck near West Yellowstone, Montana, on August 17, 1959. It registered a magnitude of 7.5 and caused significant damage, including landslides and the formation of a new lake. The disaster resulted in 28 fatalities and is one of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history.
- Day of the week: August 17th, 1959 was a Monday
- Zodiac Sign: Leo (in western zodiac), Pig (in Chinese zodiac)
- Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous
- #1 US song: A Big Hunk O' Love by Elvis Presley
- #1 UK song: Living Doll by Cliff Richard & The Drifters
- Popular movie: Some Like It Hot directed by Billy Wilder
More about August 17th, 1959? See below for more news and curiosities on August 17th, 1959.
A meaningful gift for someone born on August 17, 1959
Turn 1959 into a personalized nostalgia gift
The personalized 1959 nostalgia year poster is a beautifully researched snapshot of the books, songs and movies that shaped 1959.
- Best-selling books from 1959
- Popular songs from 1959
- Popular movies from 1959
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Real poster exampleTable of contents
- August 17, 1959: What happened on that day?
- What day of the week was August 17, 1959?
- Who was born on August 17, 1959?
- August 17, 1959: What famous people died on that day?
- August 17, 1959: Number 1 song on that day
- August 17, 1959: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
- August 17, 1959: What was the moon phase on that day?
- How old is someone born on August 17, 1959?
- Back in 1959
August 17, 1959: What happened on that day?
Here's what happened on August 17, 1959:
- 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake The Hebgen Lake earthquake struck near West Yellowstone, Montana, on August 17, 1959. It registered a magnitude of 7.5 and caused significant damage, including landslides and the formation of a new lake. The disaster resulted in 28 fatalities and is one of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history. source: usgs.gov
- Miles Davis releases 'Kind of Blue' On August 17, 1959, Miles Davis released his iconic album 'Kind of Blue,' which is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. The album features a modal jazz style and includes notable tracks such as 'So What' and 'Freddie Freeloader.' Its innovative approach has influenced countless musicians across various genres. source: britannica.com
- USSR-Iraq nuclear cooperation On August 17, 1959, the Soviet Union and Iraq signed an agreement to cooperate on nuclear technology. This agreement marked a significant step in the USSR's efforts to expand its influence in the Middle East during the Cold War. It included provisions for training Iraqi scientists and engineers in nuclear technology. source: brookings.edu
August 17, 1959: What were the magazines covers and newspapers that day?
LIFE magazines from August 1959
Looking for other vintage memories?Look at our old newspapers and magazines page
What day of the week was August 17, 1959?
August 17, 1959 was a Monday and it was the 229th day of the year 1959 in the Gregorian calendar.
August 17, 1959 can also be written as 8/17/1959 in the US and as 17/8/1959 in UK and Europe.
Who was born on August 17, 1959?
Famous people born on August 17, 1959:
![Jonathan Franzen]()
Jonathan FranzenJonathan Franzen is an acclaimed American novelist and essayist known for his critical insights into contemporary society. He gained international fame with his 2001 novel 'The Corrections,' which earned numerous literary awards and sparked significant cultural discussion. [bio]
![David Koresh]()
David KoreshDavid Koresh was the controversial leader of the Branch Davidian religious sect, known for his apocalyptic beliefs and the tragic siege in...
![Eric Schlosser]()
Eric SchlosserEric Schlosser is an acclaimed American investigative journalist and author, best known for his groundbreaking book 'Fast Food Nation' which...
August 17, 1959: What famous people died on that day?
August 17, 1959: Number 1 song on that day
The number 1 song on August 17, 1959 is the best selling or most popular song as resulting from the music charts in the week August 17th and August 23rd. It changes depending on Countries, Music Genres and methodology used to rank the most popular song (for ex., sales, streaming).
August 17, 1959: What was the number 1 song in the USA on that day?
The number 1 song in the USA on August 17, 1959 was A Big Hunk O' Love by Elvis Presley, according to the music chart for the week August 17th and August 23rd.
- Elvis Presley - A Big Hunk O' Love
- The Drifters - There Goes My Baby
- Carl Dobkins Jr. - My Heart Is An Open Book
- Sammy Turner - Lavender-Blue
- Paul Anka - Lonely Boy
August 17, 1959: What was the number 1 song in the UK on that day?
The number 1 song in the UK on August 17, 1959 was Living Doll by Cliff Richard & The Drifters, according to the music chart for the week August 17th and August 23rd.
- Cliff Richard & The Drifters - Living Doll
- Bobby Darin - Dream Lover
- Lonnie Donegan - Battle Of New Orleans
- Connie Francis - Lipstick On Your Collar
- Paul Anka - Lonely Boy
August 17, 1959: What was the number 1 R&B song on that day?
The number 1 R&B song on August 17, 1959 was Thank You Pretty Baby by Brook Benton, according to the music chart for the week August 17th and August 23rd.
- Brook Benton - Thank You Pretty Baby
- Ray Charles and his Orchestra - What'd I Say (Part I & II)
- The Drifters - There Goes My Baby
- The Falcons - You're So Fine
- Big Jay McNeely - There Is Something On Your Mind
August 17, 1959: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Zodiac and Astrological sign for August 17th is Leo.
Discover the zodiac sign and horoscope for any day in the past.
Leo is the 5th sign in the Western Zodiac. People born between July 23rd and August 22nd belong to the Leo sign: discover Leo personality and who should a Leo marry.
Babies born in August are either Leo or Virgo. People born before August 22nd are Leo, while people born from August 23rd have the sign of Virgo.
Discover the personality of August born.
Unlock the Mysteries of August 17, 1959! Claim Your Free Numerology Report!
August 17, 1959: What is the Chinese Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Chinese Zodiac sign for August 17, 1959 is Pig and the associated element is Earth.
Discover the Pig personality and how the Earth Element might affect a person's traits and compatibility with other signs according to the Chinese zodiac.
Try our calculator to discover your Chinese zodiac sign based on your date of birthAugust 17, 1959: What was the moon phase on that day?
Moon phase
The moon phase on August 17, 1959 was Waxing gibbous.
The moon phase refers to the appearance of the Moon in the night sky on August 17, 1959 and is determined by the portion of the Moon's illuminated surface that is visible from Earth.
An observer located in New York City on August 17, 1959 at 10pm, would see the moon, being 100% full, rising at 07:09 pm and setting at 06:12 am.
The previous full moon was on Jul 20, 1959 while the next full moon would come on Aug 18, 1959.
Unveil Your Inner Self: Discover Your Moon Sign Now!
Your place in the Universe on August 17, 1959
We are proud to bring you the most beautiful and accurate map of the stars on your day
Get your Star Map Now!How old is someone born on August 17, 1959?
Someone born on August 17, 1959 is:
66 years 11 months old,
or 803 months and 21 days old,
or 3494 weeks and 4 days old,
or 24462 days old,
Enjoy a trip down memory lane: discover what the world looked like when you turned 18 years old, 30 years old, 40 years old
Use our How old am I? Calculator to know the age of a person today or use the Age Calculator to determine the interval between two dates.
How many days until your next birthday if you were born on August 17, 1959?
There are 10 days until your next birthday, which will occur on Monday August 17th 2026.
Try out our Countdown calculator to find out are many days are left until your special moments.
What generation do you belong to if you were born on August 17, 1959?
You belong to the Baby Boomer Generation if you were born on August 17, 1959.
Discover what generation people belong to with our generation calculator.
Back in 1959
Why 1959 makes a meaningful nostalgia gift
For someone born on August 17, 1959, a 1959 nostalgia poster turns a familiar date into a visual account of the world they arrived in.
The history attached to August 17, 1959 includes 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, giving the gift a real story rather than a generic year label.
The soundtrack around August 17, 1959 included “A Big Hunk O' Love” by Elvis Presley, a memory that helps place the recipient back in their era.
Cinema from the world of August 17, 1959 included Some Like It Hot, adding another recognizable cultural touchpoint to the year.
August 17, 1959 is also shared with notable birthdays such as Jonathan Franzen, making the date feel connected to a wider story.
Together, those details make August 17, 1959 more than an answer to a history question: they provide the personal starting point for a gift rooted in the recipient's own date.
Because the poster is delivered digitally and personalized around 1959, it can become a birthday surprise, milestone keepsake, or printable reminder of the era connected to August 17, 1959.
The 1959 poster brings together verified books, songs, and movies, creating a personal digital keepsake for birthdays and milestone celebrations tied to August 17, 1959.
Explore the fuller story in our 1959 history guide, or see the 1959 poster gift page. You can also compare ideas in our birth-year poster guide.
Make 1959 part of their celebration
A personalized digital nostalgia gift, ready to order for someone connected to August 17, 1959.
