August 24: What Happened on This Day in History

• 2008: The 2008 Summer Olympics concluded in Beijing, China, with the Olympic flag being ceremonially handed to London mayor Boris Johnson for the upcoming 2012 Games. The games were a massive undertaking, with an official cost of US$2.2 billion for the event and an additional US$40 billion invested in infrastructure and environmental preparation. China achieved a historic milestone by winning 51 gold medals, topping the medal table for the first time.
• 2006: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially redefined the term 'planet' at its 26th General Assembly in Prague, Czech Republic, resulting in Pluto being reclassified from a planet to a dwarf planet, a significant shift in astronomical classification more than 70 years after Pluto's initial discovery.
• 1994: Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) initialed a historic accord granting Palestinians partial self-governance in the West Bank, covering critical areas of autonomy including education, health, taxation, social welfare, and tourism. This landmark agreement represented a significant step towards potential peaceful resolution of long-standing territorial disputes.
• 1990: 3,500 international peacekeepers arrive in Liberia, likely in response to ongoing civil conflict, to help stabilize the region and prevent further escalation of violence.
• 1987: Scientists announced the possibility of tornado-like atmospheric phenomena on Mars, marking a significant moment in planetary meteorological research. This discovery suggested that Mars, previously thought to have a relatively static atmosphere, might experience complex and dynamic weather patterns similar to those on Earth.
• 1986: Professional golfer Juli Inkster secured victory at the Atlantic City LPGA Golf Classic, demonstrating her exceptional skill and competitive prowess in women's professional golf during the mid-1980s. Inkster, a prominent figure in women's golf, continued to build her reputation as a top-tier athlete through performances like this tournament win.
• 1985: The Space Shuttle Discovery's STS 51-I mission was postponed at T-5 minutes before launch due to unfavorable weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center. This pre-launch cancellation is a standard safety protocol to ensure crew and vehicle protection during space missions.
• 1983: Cincinnati Reds player Pete Rose concludes his remarkable consecutive games played streak at 745 games, marking a significant moment in baseball endurance and consistency.
• 1978: On August 24, 1978, Rafael Furcal was born in the Dominican Republic. Furcal would later become a prominent Major League Baseball player, known for his exceptional skills as a shortstop and his contributions to several MLB teams during his professional career.
• 1975: Baseball player Davey Lopes attempted to extend his consecutive base stealing streak to 38, but was ultimately thrown out during the attempt.

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August 24th marks the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 237th in case of leap years).

There are 129 days remaining until the end of the year.

August 24th is the 24th day of the month of August.

What day of the week is August 24?

On August 24th, 2025 the day of the week is Sunday.

Holidays and Observances on August 24

The zodiac sign associated with August 24th is Virgo according to the Western Zodiac.

More about August 24 zodiac

What is special about the Virgo sign?

• Virgo personality traits and attitude
• Virgo most and least compatible signs
• Why August born are so special