Thursday, 17th January 2008 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! Explore 60 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings drizzly with temperatures between 0°C and 10°C. Tonight's moon is in its last quarter phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Capricorn. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Thursday, 17th January in London, GB.
On 17 January 2008, London experienced drizzly conditions as the city moved through the last quarter of the lunar cycle under the influence of Capricorn. The British capital, situated on the Thames in south-eastern England, serves as the political and economic centre of the United Kingdom and has been a major settlement for nearly two thousand years.
Historical records show that 17 January has witnessed several significant moments across centuries. In 1945, Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who had saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust during the Second World War, was taken into Soviet custody during the Siege of Budapest and disappeared from public view. Further back, in 1377, Gregory XI, the last Avignon pope, entered Rome after a journey of four months from Avignon, marking the return of the papal seat to its original city and ending a period of papal residence in France that had lasted decades.
The drizzly weather over London on this particular Thursday in January reflected the typical winter conditions of the season. The last quarter moon phase and Capricorn zodiac sign defined the astronomical and astrological context of the day. DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather patterns for any chosen date and location, alongside a detailed record of historical events, notable births and deaths, allowing users to explore the significance of any day throughout history.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 17th January 2008
Empty vessels sing differently than full ones.
Fortune of the Day
17th January in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on 17th January blend typical Capricorn ambition with unexpected grace thanks to Venus influence. They appear reserved and structured, yet possess subtle emotional depth and harmony-seeking nature. This combination creates thoughtful achievers with quiet artistic sensibility.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their discipline and dependability are admirable; they complete long-term projects with remarkable patience. However, they tend toward self-criticism and can appear overly serious. Their capacity to express joy could be more visible.
Love In relationships, these individuals offer unwavering loyalty and deep feeling revealed gradually over time. Venus influence grants them charm and sensuality as trust develops. They value partners who provide stability and authenticity.
Caree & Finance Professional ambition drives them toward positions of responsibility and financial security. Money management is instinctive; they systematically build wealth. Creative or interpersonal roles naturally activate their Venus dimension.
Health These natives risk overwork and should prioritize regular relaxation and downtime. Physical constitution is robust, yet emotional stress relief through movement or art proves beneficial. Balance between duty and pleasure is vital for wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its last quarter phase.
Chinese year of the Pig (Fire).
Fun Facts About 17th January
Name Days in Your Language: Anthony, Antoine, Antoinette, Anton, Antonia, Antonio, Antony, Antwan, Ben, Benita, Benito, Benjamin, Bennie, Benny, Toni, Tony
Someone born on this day in 2008 would be 18 years old today — just 6,656 days into life, which is roughly 159,752 hours, 9,585,120 minutes, or 575,107,213 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 17. day of the year.
As this is a leap year, there are 349 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 3 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 17th January
- Peio Canales, Spanish footballer (2005)
- Robin Roefs, Dutch footballer (2003)
- Samuel, American singer based in South Korea. (2002)
- Enzo Fernández, Argentinian footballer (2001)
- Kang Chan-hee, South Korean singer and actor (2000)
- Devlin DeFrancesco, Canadian race car driver (2000)
- Ayo Dosunmu, American basketball player (2000)
- Isa Briones, American actor and singer (1999)
- Sophie Molineux, Australian cricketer (1998)
- Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, French footballer (1998)
Lives Remembered on 17th January
- Don Kirshner, American songwriter and producer (born 1934) (2011)
- Gaines Adams, American football player (born 1983) (2010)
- Jyoti Basu, Indian politician and 9th Chief Minister of West Bengal (born 1914) (2010)
- Michalis Papakonstantinou, Greek journalist and politician, Foreign Minister of Greece (born 1919) (2010)
- Erich Segal, American author and screenwriter (born 1937) (2010)
- Anders Isaksson, Swedish journalist and historian (born 1943) (2009)
- Bobby Fischer, American chess player and author (born 1943) (2008)
- Ernie Holmes, American football player, wrestler, and actor (born 1948) (2008)
- Art Buchwald, American journalist and author (born 1925) (2007)
- Yevhen Kushnaryov, Ukrainian engineer and politician (born 1951) (2007)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 17th January
- Christian feast day: Anthony the Great
- Christian feast day: Blessed Angelo Paoli
- Christian feast day: Blessed Gamelbert of Michaelsbuch
- Christian feast day: Charles Gore (Church of England)
- Christian feast day: Jenaro Sánchez Delgadillo (one of Saints of the Cristero War)
- Christian feast day: Mildgyth
- Christian feast day: Our Lady of Pontmain
- Christian feast day: Sulpitius the Pious
- Christian feast day: January 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- National Day (Menorca, Spain)
- The opening ceremony of Patras Carnival, celebrated until Clean Monday. (Patras, Greece)
What Happened on 17th January?
- Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42 crashed near Mount Bulusaraung in South Sulawesi, after losing contact en route to Makassar. (2026)
- An avalanche strikes Nyingchi, Tibet, killing 28 people. (2023)
- The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is announced to be suspended. (2017)
- President Barack Obama announces the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, an agreement intended to limit Iran's nuclear program. (2016)
- Former cyclist Lance Armstrong confesses to his doping in an airing of Oprah's Next Chapter. (2013)
- Shahzad Luqman is murdered by members of Golden Dawn in Petralona, Athens, leading the creation of new measures to combat race-based attacks in Greece. (2013)
- Rioting begins between Muslim and Christian groups in Jos, Nigeria, results in at least 200 deaths. (2010)
- British Airways Flight 38 crashes short of the runway at Heathrow Airport, injuring 47. (2008)
- The Doomsday Clock is set to five minutes to midnight in response to North Korea's nuclear testing. (2007)
- Mount Nyiragongo erupts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, displacing an estimated 400,000 people. (2002)