Birth chart on this day
Discover the planets positions on August 23rd, 1979 as well as what the sky looked like at your place
see horoscope and birth chart for August 23, 1979What happened on Thursday, August 23, 1979?
About August 23rd, 1979, in brief:
- Historical events: On August 23, 1979, Alexander Godunov, a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, defected to the United States during the company's tour in New York City. He sought political asylum, citing artistic restrictions in the Soviet Union. His wife, Ludmila Vlasova, a fellow Bolshoi soloist, chose to return to Moscow after the defection. Godunov's departure marked the first defection from the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet.
- Day of the week: August 23rd, 1979 was a Thursday
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo (in western zodiac), Goat (in Chinese zodiac)
- Moon Phase: New Moon
- #1 US song: My Sharona by The Knack
- #1 UK song: I Don't Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats
- Popular movie: Apocalypse Now directed by Francis Ford Coppola
More about August 23rd, 1979? See below for more news and curiosities on August 23rd, 1979.
A meaningful gift for someone born on August 23, 1979
Turn 1979 into a personalized nostalgia gift
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
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Real poster exampleTable of contents
- August 23, 1979: What happened on that day?
- What day of the week was August 23, 1979?
- Who was born on August 23, 1979?
- August 23, 1979: Number 1 song on that day
- August 23, 1979: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
- August 23, 1979: What was the moon phase on that day?
- How old is someone born on August 23, 1979?
- Back in 1979
August 23, 1979: What happened on that day?
Here's what happened on August 23, 1979:
- Alexander Godunov defects from Soviet Union On August 23, 1979, Alexander Godunov, a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, defected to the United States during the company's tour in New York City. He sought political asylum, citing artistic restrictions in the Soviet Union. His wife, Ludmila Vlasova, a fellow Bolshoi soloist, chose to return to Moscow after the defection. Godunov's departure marked the first defection from the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet. source: washingtonpost.com
- Iranian Army launches offensive against Kurdish rebels in Saqqez On August 23, 1979, Iranian government troops initiated an offensive against Kurdish insurgents in the town of Saqqez, located near the Iraqi border. The operation involved tanks, artillery, and helicopter gunships targeting Kurdish positions. The official Pars News Agency reported that government forces recaptured Saqqez after a three-day battle, though independent confirmation was lacking due to communication disruptions. Casualty figures varied, with Tehran newspapers estimating about 600 deaths on both sides since the conflict began in Kurdistan ten days prior. source: washingtonpost.com
August 23, 1979: What were the magazines covers and newspapers that day?
LIFE magazines from August 1979
Looking for other vintage memories?Look at our old newspapers and magazines page
What day of the week was August 23, 1979?
August 23, 1979 was a Thursday and it was the 235th day of the year 1979 in the Gregorian calendar.
August 23, 1979 can also be written as 8/23/1979 in the US and as 23/8/1979 in UK and Europe.
Who was born on August 23, 1979?
Famous people born on August 23, 1979:
![Clare Grant]()
Clare GrantClare Grant is an American actress, model, and producer best known for her work in film, television, and animation voice acting. She is a co-founder of the multi-media production company Team Unicorn. [bio]
![Ritchie Neville]()
Ritchie NevilleMember of the popular British boy band Five, known for hit songs in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
August 23, 1979: Number 1 song on that day
The number 1 song on August 23, 1979 is the best selling or most popular song as resulting from the music charts in the week August 20th and August 26th. It changes depending on Countries, Music Genres and methodology used to rank the most popular song (for ex., sales, streaming).
August 23, 1979: What was the number 1 song in the USA on that day?
The number 1 song in the USA on August 23, 1979 was My Sharona by The Knack, according to the music chart for the week August 20th and August 26th.
- The Knack - My Sharona
- Chic - Good Times
- Barbra Streisand - The Main Event & Fight
- Earth, Wind and Fire - After The Love Has Gone
- Donna Summer - Bad Girls
August 23, 1979: What was the number 1 song in the UK on that day?
The number 1 song in the UK on August 23, 1979 was I Don't Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats, according to the music chart for the week August 20th and August 26th.
- The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays
- Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Anymore
- Abba - Angeleyes / Voulez Vous
- The Police - Can't Stand Losing You
- Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3)
August 23, 1979: What was the number 1 R&B song on that day?
The number 1 R&B song on August 23, 1979 was Good Times by Chic, according to the music chart for the week August 20th and August 26th.
- Chic - Good Times
- Earth, Wind & Fire - After The Love Has Gone
- Teddy Pendergrass - Turn Off The Lights
- Ashford & Simpson - Found A Cure
- Michael Jackson - Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
August 23, 1979: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Zodiac and Astrological sign for August 23rd is Virgo.
Discover the zodiac sign and horoscope for any day in the past.
Virgo is the 6th sign in the Western Zodiac. People born between August 23rd and September 22nd belong to the Virgo sign: discover Virgo personality and who should a Virgo 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 23, 1979! Claim Your Free Numerology Report!
August 23, 1979: What is the Chinese Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Chinese Zodiac sign for August 23, 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 birthAugust 23, 1979: What was the moon phase on that day?
Moon phase
The moon phase on August 23, 1979 was New Moon.
The moon phase refers to the appearance of the Moon in the night sky on August 23, 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 August 23, 1979 at 10pm, would see the moon, being 4% full, rising at 06:59 am and setting at 08:44 pm.
The previous full moon was on Aug 08, 1979 while the next full moon would come on Sep 06, 1979.
Unveil Your Inner Self: Discover Your Moon Sign Now!
Your place in the Universe on August 23, 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 August 23, 1979?
Someone born on August 23, 1979 is:
46 years 10 months old,
or 562 months and 29 days old,
or 2447 weeks and 6 days old,
or 17135 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 23, 1979?
There are 32 days until your next birthday, which will occur on Sunday August 23rd 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 23, 1979?
You belong to the Generation X if you were born on August 23, 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 August 23, 1979, a 1979 nostalgia poster turns a familiar date into a visual account of the world they arrived in.
The history attached to August 23, 1979 includes Alexander Godunov defects from Soviet Union, giving the gift a real story rather than a generic year label.
The soundtrack around August 23, 1979 included “My Sharona” by The Knack, a memory that helps place the recipient back in their era.
Cinema from the world of August 23, 1979 included Apocalypse Now, adding another recognizable cultural touchpoint to the year.
August 23, 1979 is also shared with notable birthdays such as Clare Grant, making the date feel connected to a wider story.
Together, those details make August 23, 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 August 23, 1979.
The 1979 poster brings together verified books, songs, and movies, creating a personal digital keepsake for birthdays and milestone celebrations tied to August 23, 1979.
Explore the fuller story in our 1979 history guide. 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 August 23, 1979.
