Birth chart on this day
Discover the planets positions on December 17th, 1979 as well as what the sky looked like at your place
see horoscope and birth chart for December 17, 1979What happened on Monday, December 17, 1979?
About December 17th, 1979, in brief:
- Historical events: On December 17, 1979, Hollywood stuntman Stan Barrett drove the Budweiser Rocket, a rocket- and missile-powered car, across a dry lakebed at California’s Edwards Air Force Base, reportedly reaching a top speed of 739.666 miles per hour. However, due to equipment malfunctions and the lack of a second run, this achievement was not officially recognized as a land speed record.
- Day of the week: December 17th, 1979 was a Monday
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius (in western zodiac), Goat (in Chinese zodiac)
- Moon Phase: Waning crescent
- #1 US song: Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
- #1 UK song: Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd
- Popular movie: Apocalypse Now directed by Francis Ford Coppola
More about December 17th, 1979? See below for more news and curiosities on December 17th, 1979.
A meaningful gift for someone born on December 17, 1979
Give them the year they were born
The personalized 1979 nostalgia year poster is a beautifully researched snapshot of the books, songs and movies that shaped 1979.
- Best-selling books from 1979
- Popular songs from 1979
- Popular movies from 1979
$9.90 · Personalized digital poster delivered instantly by email
Create a 1979 year posterWant the exact date instead? Create a December 17, 1979 poster
See our satisfaction and refund policy.
Real poster exampleTable of contents
- December 17, 1979: What happened on that day?
- What day of the week was December 17, 1979?
- Who was born on December 17, 1979?
- December 17, 1979: Number 1 song on that day
- December 17, 1979: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
- December 17, 1979: What was the moon phase on that day?
- How old is someone born on December 17, 1979?
- Back in 1979
December 17, 1979: What happened on that day?
Here's what happened on December 17, 1979:
- Stuntman Stan Barrett breaks the sound barrier, unofficially On December 17, 1979, Hollywood stuntman Stan Barrett drove the Budweiser Rocket, a rocket- and missile-powered car, across a dry lakebed at California’s Edwards Air Force Base, reportedly reaching a top speed of 739.666 miles per hour. However, due to equipment malfunctions and the lack of a second run, this achievement was not officially recognized as a land speed record. source: history.com
- Stan Barrett attempts land speed record with Budweiser Rocket car On December 17, 1979, Hollywood stuntman Stan Barrett drove the Budweiser Rocket car at Edwards Air Force Base, California, reaching an estimated speed of 739.666 mph (Mach 1.01). This attempt to break the sound barrier on land was not officially recognized due to measurement controversies and the lack of a two-way run, which is required for official records. source: history.com
- 1979 Bali earthquake On December 17, 1979, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of Karangasem Regency in Bali, Indonesia, causing significant damage and casualties. The tremor led to the destruction of up to 80% of buildings in Karangasem Regency, displaced between 15,000 and 500,000 people, and severed road links to the provincial capital of Denpasar. The earthquake resulted in 27 fatalities and approximately 200 injuries. source: pubs.usgs.gov
December 17, 1979: What were the magazines covers and newspapers that day?
LIFE magazines from December 1979
Looking for other vintage memories?Look at our old newspapers and magazines page
December 17, 1979: What were the main match results that day?
NFL - American Football
- Denver Broncos - San Diego Chargers : 7 - 17
What day of the week was December 17, 1979?
December 17, 1979 was a Monday and it was the 351st day of the year 1979 in the Gregorian calendar.
December 17, 1979 can also be written as 12/17/1979 in the US and as 17/12/1979 in UK and Europe.
Who was born on December 17, 1979?
Famous people born on December 17, 1979:
![Ryan Key]()
Ryan KeyLead singer and guitarist of the popular pop-punk band Yellowcard, known for their unique violin-infused rock sound and hit songs like...
![Flo Rida]()
Flo RidaInternationally renowned rapper and hip-hop artist known for hit singles like 'Low' and 'Right Round'.
![Charlotte Edwards]()
Charlotte EdwardsLegendary English female cricketer who captained the England women's national team and is considered one of the most successful women's...
![Mohamed Benhamou]()
Mohamed Benhamou
December 17, 1979: Number 1 song on that day
The number 1 song on December 17, 1979 is the best selling or most popular song as resulting from the music charts in the week December 17th and December 23rd. It changes depending on Countries, Music Genres and methodology used to rank the most popular song (for ex., sales, streaming).
December 17, 1979: What was the number 1 song in the USA on that day?
The number 1 song in the USA on December 17, 1979 was Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes, according to the music chart for the week December 17th and December 23rd.
- Rupert Holmes - Escape (The Pina Colada Song)
- K.C and the Sunshine Band - Please Don't Go
- Styx - Babe
- Stevie Wonder - Send One Your Love
- Commodores - Still
December 17, 1979: What was the number 1 song in the UK on that day?
The number 1 song in the UK on December 17, 1979 was Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd, according to the music chart for the week December 17th and December 23rd.
- Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
- The Police - Walking On The Moon
- Abba - I Have A Dream
- The Tourists - I Only Want To Be With You
- Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand - No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)
December 17, 1979: What was the number 1 R&B song on that day?
The number 1 R&B song on December 17, 1979 was Do You Love What You Feel by Rufus And Chaka Khan, according to the music chart for the week December 17th and December 23rd.
- Rufus And Chaka Khan - Do You Love What You Feel
- Michael Jackson - Rock With You
- Bar-Kays - Move Your Boogie Body
- Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover
- Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight
December 17, 1979: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Zodiac and Astrological sign for December 17th is Sagittarius.
Discover the zodiac sign and horoscope for any day in the past.
Sagittarius is the 9th sign in the Western Zodiac. People born between November 22nd and December 21st belong to the Sagittarius sign: discover Sagittarius personality and who should a Sagittarius marry.
Babies born in December are either Sagittarius or Capricorn. People born before December 21st are Sagittarius, while people born from December 22nd have the sign of Capricorn.
Discover the personality of December born.
Unlock the Mysteries of December 17, 1979! Claim Your Free Numerology Report!
December 17, 1979: What is the Chinese Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Chinese Zodiac sign for December 17, 1979 is Goat and the associated element is Earth.
Discover the Goat 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 birthDecember 17, 1979: What was the moon phase on that day?
Moon phase
The moon phase on December 17, 1979 was Waning crescent.
The moon phase refers to the appearance of the Moon in the night sky on December 17, 1979 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 December 17, 1979 at 10pm, would see the moon, being 0% full, rising at 05:08 am and setting at 04:21 pm.
The previous full moon was on Dec 03, 1979 while the next full moon would come on Jan 02, 1980.
Unveil Your Inner Self: Discover Your Moon Sign Now!
Your place in the Universe on December 17, 1979
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 December 17, 1979?
Someone born on December 17, 1979 is:
46 years 7 months old,
or 559 months and 19 days old,
or 2433 weeks and 2 days old,
or 17033 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 December 17, 1979?
There are 134 days until your next birthday, which will occur on Thursday December 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 December 17, 1979?
You belong to the Generation X if you were born on December 17, 1979.
Discover what generation people belong to with our generation calculator.
This day in 30 sec.
Back in 1979
Why 1979 makes a meaningful nostalgia gift
For someone born on December 17, 1979, a 1979 nostalgia poster turns a familiar date into a visual account of the world they arrived in.
The history attached to December 17, 1979 includes Stuntman Stan Barrett breaks the sound barrier, unofficially, giving the gift a real story rather than a generic year label.
The soundtrack around December 17, 1979 included “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes, a memory that helps place the recipient back in their era.
Cinema from the world of December 17, 1979 included Apocalypse Now, adding another recognizable cultural touchpoint to the year.
December 17, 1979 is also shared with notable birthdays such as Ryan Key, making the date feel connected to a wider story.
Together, those details make December 17, 1979 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 1979, it can become a birthday surprise, milestone keepsake, or printable reminder of the era connected to December 17, 1979.
The 1979 poster brings together verified books, songs, and movies, creating a personal digital keepsake for birthdays and milestone celebrations tied to December 17, 1979.
Explore the fuller story in our 1979 history guide, or see the 1979 poster gift page. You can also compare ideas in our birth-year poster guide.
Make 1979 part of their celebration
A personalized digital nostalgia gift, ready to order for someone connected to December 17, 1979.
