Birth chart on this day
Discover the planets positions on August 21st, 1986 as well as what the sky looked like at your place
see horoscope and birth chart for August 21, 1986What happened on Thursday, August 21, 1986?
About August 21st, 1986, in brief:
- Historical events: On August 21, 1986, a catastrophic limnic eruption at Lake Nyos in Cameroon released approximately 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide gas, suffocating 1,746 people and thousands of livestock within a 25-kilometer radius. The gas cloud, heavier than air, descended into nearby valleys, displacing oxygen and causing rapid asphyxiation. The exact trigger for the eruption remains uncertain, with theories including a landslide, volcanic activity, or a minor earthquake. In response, a degassing system was installed at the lake to reduce CO₂ concentration and prevent future incidents.
- Day of the week: August 21st, 1986 was a Thursday
- Zodiac Sign: Leo (in western zodiac), Tiger (in Chinese zodiac)
- Moon Phase: Full Moon
- #1 US song: Papa Don't Preach by Madonna
- #1 UK song: The Lady In Red by Chris De Burgh
- Popular movie: Aliens directed by James Cameron
More about August 21st, 1986? See below for more news and curiosities on August 21st, 1986.
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The personalized 1986 nostalgia year poster is a beautifully researched snapshot of the books, songs and movies that shaped 1986.
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- Popular songs from 1986
- Popular movies from 1986
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Real poster exampleTable of contents
- August 21, 1986: What happened on that day?
- What day of the week was August 21, 1986?
- Who was born on August 21, 1986?
- August 21, 1986: What famous people died on that day?
- August 21, 1986: Number 1 song on that day
- August 21, 1986: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
- August 21, 1986: What was the moon phase on that day?
- How old is someone born on August 21, 1986?
- Back in 1986
August 21, 1986: What happened on that day?
Here's what happened on August 21, 1986:
- Lake Nyos disaster: Deadly volcanic gas release On August 21, 1986, a catastrophic limnic eruption at Lake Nyos in Cameroon released approximately 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide gas, suffocating 1,746 people and thousands of livestock within a 25-kilometer radius. The gas cloud, heavier than air, descended into nearby valleys, displacing oxygen and causing rapid asphyxiation. The exact trigger for the eruption remains uncertain, with theories including a landslide, volcanic activity, or a minor earthquake. In response, a degassing system was installed at the lake to reduce CO₂ concentration and prevent future incidents. source: britannica.com
- Aeroméxico Flight 498 collision with a private plane On August 21, 1986, Aeroméxico Flight 498, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, collided with a private Cessna 172 over Cerritos, California. The incident resulted in the deaths of all 67 people on board the DC-9 and 15 on the ground, making it one of the deadliest mid-air collisions in U.S. history. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the accident to air traffic control errors and the Cessna pilot's failure to maintain altitude. source: ntsb.gov
- Red Sox Player's Remarkable Performance Boston Red Sox player Spike Owens achieved a rare baseball feat by scoring six runs in a single game, contributing to a massive 24-5 victory over the Cleveland Indians. This performance was particularly notable as it was the first time in 40 years a player had accomplished such a scoring milestone.
August 21, 1986: What were the magazines covers and newspapers that day?
LIFE magazines from August 1986
Looking for other vintage memories?Look at our old newspapers and magazines page
What day of the week was August 21, 1986?
August 21, 1986 was a Thursday and it was the 233rd day of the year 1986 in the Gregorian calendar.
August 21, 1986 can also be written as 8/21/1986 in the US and as 21/8/1986 in UK and Europe.
Who was born on August 21, 1986?
Famous people born on August 21, 1986:
![Usain Bolt]()
Usain BoltUsain Bolt is a Jamaican former sprinter, widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time. He is best known for holding the world records in the 100 meters and 200 meters, with times of 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds, respectively. Bolt is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and an eleven-time World Champion, whose influence on track and field extends … [bio]
August 21, 1986: What famous people died on that day?
Famous people died on August 21, 1986:
![Agustín Sauto Arana]()
Agustín Sauto Arana![William C. Chase]()
William C. Chase
August 21, 1986: Number 1 song on that day
The number 1 song on August 21, 1986 is the best selling or most popular song as resulting from the music charts in the week August 18th and August 24th. It changes depending on Countries, Music Genres and methodology used to rank the most popular song (for ex., sales, streaming).
August 21, 1986: What was the number 1 song in the USA on that day?
The number 1 song in the USA on August 21, 1986 was Papa Don't Preach by Madonna, according to the music chart for the week August 18th and August 24th.
- Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
- Steve Winwood - Higher Love
- Bananarama - Venus
- Belinda Carlisle - Mad About You
- Peter Cetera - Glory Of Love (Theme From The Karate Kid Part II)
August 21, 1986: What was the number 1 song in the UK on that day?
The number 1 song in the UK on August 21, 1986 was The Lady In Red by Chris De Burgh, according to the music chart for the week August 18th and August 24th.
- Chris De Burgh - The Lady In Red
- Boris Gardiner - I Want To Wake Up With You
- Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
- Sinitta - So Macho / Cruising
- Stan Ridgway - Camouflage
August 21, 1986: What was the number 1 R&B song on that day?
The number 1 R&B song on August 21, 1986 was Do You Get Enough Love by Shirley Jones, according to the music chart for the week August 18th and August 24th.
- Shirley Jones - Do You Get Enough Love
- Anita Baker - Sweet Love
- Luther Vandross - Give Me The Reason
- Billy Ocean - Love Zone
- Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent
August 21, 1986: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Zodiac and Astrological sign for August 21st 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 21, 1986! Claim Your Free Numerology Report!
August 21, 1986: What is the Chinese Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Chinese Zodiac sign for August 21, 1986 is Tiger and the associated element is Fire.
Discover the Tiger personality and how the Fire 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 21, 1986: What was the moon phase on that day?
Moon phase
The moon phase on August 21, 1986 was Full Moon.
The moon phase refers to the appearance of the Moon in the night sky on August 21, 1986 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 21, 1986 at 10pm, would see the moon, being 90% full, rising at 09:00 pm and setting at 09:12 am.
The previous full moon was on Aug 19, 1986 while the next full moon would come on Sep 18, 1986.
Unveil Your Inner Self: Discover Your Moon Sign Now!
Your place in the Universe on August 21, 1986
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 21, 1986?
Someone born on August 21, 1986 is:
39 years 11 months old,
or 479 months and 3 days old,
or 2083 weeks and 1 day old,
or 14582 days old,
Enjoy a trip down memory lane: discover what the world looked like when you turned 18 years old, 30 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 21, 1986?
There are 28 days until your next birthday, which will occur on Friday August 21st 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 21, 1986?
You belong to the Millennial Generation if you were born on August 21, 1986.
Discover what generation people belong to with our generation calculator.
This day in 30 sec.
Back in 1986
Why 1986 makes a meaningful nostalgia gift
For someone born on August 21, 1986, a 1986 nostalgia poster turns a familiar date into a visual account of the world they arrived in.
The history attached to August 21, 1986 includes Lake Nyos disaster: Deadly volcanic gas release, giving the gift a real story rather than a generic year label.
The soundtrack around August 21, 1986 included “Papa Don't Preach” by Madonna, a memory that helps place the recipient back in their era.
Cinema from the world of August 21, 1986 included Aliens, adding another recognizable cultural touchpoint to the year.
August 21, 1986 is also shared with notable birthdays such as Usain Bolt, making the date feel connected to a wider story.
Together, those details make August 21, 1986 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 1986, it can become a birthday surprise, milestone keepsake, or printable reminder of the era connected to August 21, 1986.
The 1986 poster brings together verified books, songs, and movies, creating a personal digital keepsake for birthdays and milestone celebrations tied to August 21, 1986.
Explore the fuller story in our 1986 history guide. You can also compare ideas in our birth-year poster guide.
Make 1986 part of their celebration
A personalized digital nostalgia gift, ready to order for someone connected to August 21, 1986.
