Wednesday, 28th November 1979 in London

Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's Red Planet Day. Explore 57 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 cloudy with temperatures between 7°C and 12°C. Tonight's moon is in its last quarter phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Sagittarius. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Wednesday, 28th November in London, GB.

London
Ilya Grigorik – CC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons

On 28 November 1979, London experienced cloudy conditions whilst operating under the influence of the Sagittarius zodiac sign, with the moon in its last quarter phase. London, the capital of the United Kingdom, serves as a major global centre for finance, culture and politics, with historical significance spanning nearly two millennia.

This date marks a significant entry in aviation history. In 1979, Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed into Antarctica's Mount Erebus, killing all 257 people on board. The disaster prompted major investigations into navigation systems and procedures for polar routes. Two decades earlier, in 1987, South African Airways Flight 295 experienced a catastrophic in-flight fire that caused the aircraft to plummet into the Indian Ocean east of Mauritius, claiming all 159 lives aboard. Both incidents fundamentally shaped aviation safety protocols across the industry.

Beyond aviation, the date connects to scientific advancement through the work of Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who in 1967 observed what she described as a "bit of scruff" in radio telescope data. This observation led to the discovery of PSR B1919+21, the first identified pulsar, a discovery that expanded understanding of stellar physics and earned recognition in the scientific community. Historical records also document significant political transitions, including the 1966 military coup in Burundi led by Michel Micombero, which abolished the monarchy and restructured the nation's governance.

DayAtlas provides access to comprehensive historical records for any date and location, including detailed weather information, significant events, and notable births and deaths throughout history.

Find out what's happening today in London.

What the Weather Had in Store for London on 28th November 1979

Cloudy

Sunrise 08:38
Sunset 16:58
Sunshine duration 07:51 hours
Daylight duration 08:19 hours

Maximum temperature 12.2°C
Minimum temperature 7.5°C

Wind speed 19km/h from SW
Precipitation 0mm

Understanding flourishes where certainty admits its limits.

Fortune of the Day

28th November in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces

Today, the zodiac sign Pisces celebrates its birthday.

Personality Profile

Personality Those born on November 28th blend Sagittarius adventurousness with Solar vitality and self-expression. They think expansively, speak candidly, and constantly seek new horizons. Their infectious energy inspires others to join their quest.

Strengths & Weaknesses Their strengths include optimism, wisdom, and creative self-expression that feels authentic. However, impatience and occasional surface-level thinking can hinder growth. Deeper reflection strengthens their natural gifts.

Love These natives value freedom and need partners who understand their philosophical spirit. Passion combined with intellectual connection fuels their relationships. Their directness can wound; balancing honesty with tenderness matters greatly.

Caree & Finance They thrive in roles involving creativity, travel, or teaching. Jupiter blesses financial expansion, yet impulsive spending requires discipline. Entrepreneurship aligns naturally with their independent temperament.

Health Their fiery nature demands regular physical activity and adventure to stay balanced. Overactivity risks burnout; meditation and rest are essential. Stable nutrition supports their intense energy sustainably.


That night, the moon was in its last quarter phase.


Chinese year of the Goat (Earth).

Fun Facts About 28th November

Name Days in Your Language: Nola, Nolan, Nolana, Norton


Someone born on this day in 1979 would be 46 years old today — just 16,938 days into life, which is roughly 406,515 hours, 24,390,933 minutes, or 1,463,456,032 seconds spent on Earth so far.


It's the 332. day of the year.


There are 33 days still to come.


We’re currently in Week 48 — the year marches on.

Famous Birthdays on 28th November

  • Leandro Barbosa, Brazilian basketball player (1982)
  • Chris Harris, English motorcycle racer (1982)
  • Alan Ritchson, American actor, model, singer, and songwriter (1982)
  • Raido Villers, Estonian basketball player (1982)
  • Erick Rowan, American wrestler (1981)
  • Brian Tevreden, Dutch footballer (1981)
  • Lisa Middelhauve, German singer-songwriter (1980)
  • Stuart Taylor, English footballer (1980)
  • Jaroslav Balaštík, Czech ice hockey player (1979)
  • Chamillionaire, American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor (1979)

Lives Remembered on 28th November

  • Helen of Greece and Denmark (born 1896) (1982)
  • Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Argentinian businessman (born 1902) (1978)
  • Bob Meusel, American baseball player and sailor (born 1896) (1977)
  • Rosalind Russell, American actress and singer (born 1907) (1976)
  • Peder Furubotn, Norwegian Communist and anti-Nazi Resistance leader (born 1890) (1975)
  • Marthe Bibesco, Romanian-French author and poet (born 1886) (1973)
  • Havergal Brian, English composer (born 1875) (1972)

Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 28th November

  • Independence Day, celebrating the independence of Albania from Turkey in 1912, the first Albanian flag raise by Skanderbeg in 1443, and for the new parliamentary constitution in 1998.
  • Bedfordshire day is celebrated in the county of Bedfordshire to celebrate the birth of John Bunyan
  • Bukovina Day (Romania)
  • Christian feast day: Acacius, Hirenarchus, and companions, of Sebaste
  • Christian feast day: Catherine Labouré
  • Christian feast day: Feast of the Holy Sovereigns (Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii)
  • Christian feast day: Herman of Alaska, the anniversary of his actual death. Eastern Orthodox
  • Christian feast day: James of the Marches
  • Christian feast day: Kamehameha and Emma (Episcopal Church (USA))
  • Christian feast day: Our Lady of Kibeho
  • Christian feast day: Pope Gregory III
  • Christian feast day: Rufus (no. 8)
  • Christian feast day: Stephen the Younger
  • Christian feast day: November 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • Heroes' Day (Sri Lanka)
  • Hōonkō (Japan)
  • Independence Day (Mauritania), celebrate the independence of Mauritania from France in 1960.
  • Independence Day (Panama), celebrate the independence of Panama from Spain in 1821.
  • Navy Day (Iran)
  • Proclamation of Independence Day (Timor-Leste), celebrating the declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of East Timor from Portugal in 1975.
  • Republic Day (Burundi)
  • Republic Day (Chad)

What Happened on 28th November?

  • Over seven hundred civilians are massacred by the Ethiopian National Defense Force and Eritrean Army in Aksum, Ethiopia. (2020)
  • LaMia Flight 2933 crashes near Medellín, Colombia, killing 71 of 77 people on board, including members of the Brazilian football club Chapecoense (2016)
  • Gunmen set off three bombs at the central mosque in the northern Nigerian city of Kano killing at least 120 people. (2014)
  • Suicide bombers blow up an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa, Kenya; their colleagues fail in their attempt to bring down Arkia Israel Airlines Flight 582 with surface-to-air missiles. (2002)
  • South Ossetia declares independence from Georgia. (1991)
  • British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher resigns as leader of the Conservative Party and, therefore, as Prime Minister. She is succeeded in both positions by John Major. (1990)
  • Cold War: Velvet Revolution: In the face of protests, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia announces it will give up its monopoly on political power. (1989)
  • South African Airways Flight 295 crashes into the Indian Ocean, killing all 159 people on board. (1987)
  • Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-9, the first mission to carry the European Space Agency's Spacelab module. (1983)
  • Iran–Iraq War: Operation Morvarid: The bulk of the Iraqi Navy is destroyed by the Iranian Navy in the Persian Gulf. (Commemorated in Iran as Navy Day.) (1980)