Wednesday, 17th October 1962 in Paris
Welcome to your daily snapshot of Paris! It's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Explore 61 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in Paris. 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 Paris brings cloudy with temperatures between 7°C and 15°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing crescent phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Libra. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Wednesday, 17th October in Paris, FR.
Paris, the capital of France, sits on the Seine River and has served as a major European cultural and political centre for centuries. The city's influence extends across art, philosophy, cuisine and international affairs, making it one of the world's most significant urban centres.
On 17 October 1962, a fatal rail crash occurred at Hatfield in Hertfordshire, which would reshape British railway safety for years to come. The accident prompted widespread speed limit reductions across the entire British rail network and eventually led to the collapse of Railtrack, the railway management group. In earlier centuries, the continent witnessed other notable moments of conflict and consequence. The Battle off Texel in 1914, fought off the coast of the Dutch island, saw a British naval squadron sink the German 7th Half Flotilla of torpedo boats, marking a significant naval engagement during the First World War. German astronomer Johannes Kepler made observations beginning on this date in 1604 of an exceptionally bright object in the constellation Ophiuchus, now recognised as Kepler's Supernova, a discovery that contributed substantially to astronomical understanding.
On this particular date in 1962, Paris experienced cloudy weather. The moon was in its waxing crescent phase, and those born on this day fell under the zodiac sign of Libra, characterised traditionally by traits of balance and fairness. DayAtlas provides detailed information about weather conditions on any given date and location, alongside historical events, notable births and deaths, enabling users to explore the significance of any day throughout history.
Find out what's happening today in Paris.
What the Weather Had in Store for Paris on 17th October 1962
Salt transforms bland into memorable through presence alone.
Fortune of the Day
17th October in the Stars – Star Sign Libra
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on October 17th blend classic Libran diplomacy with innovative Uranus energy. They think unconventionally yet radiate charm and balance. This subtle fusion creates modern minds with a keen sense of fairness and intellectual curiosity.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their greatest strength lies in creative problem-solving and balanced judgment. However, indecision and people-pleasing tendencies can cloud their path. Over-accommodation of others sometimes obscures their own authentic needs.
Love Partners appreciate their attentiveness and intellectual engagement. These natives seek equality and meaningful conversations. A somewhat detached approach occasionally prevents the emotional vulnerability deeper bonds require.
Caree & Finance Creative fields and innovative sectors naturally appeal to them. They excel in negotiation, design, and advisory roles. Financial stability improves when they overcome hesitation in major decisions.
Health The nervous system and kidneys warrant attention through stress management. Balance between mental stimulation and physical rest proves essential. Regular movement and creative outlets support overall wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its waxing crescent phase.
Chinese year of the Tiger (Water).
Fun Facts About 17th October
Name Days in Your Language: Brad, Braden, Bradford, Bradley, Brady, Braeden, Brayden, Braydon, Rodolfo, Rudi, Rudolf, Rudolph, Rudolphine, Rudy
Someone born on this day in 1962 would be 63 years old today — just 23,195 days into life, which is roughly 556,680 hours, 33,400,848 minutes, or 2,004,050,906 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 290. day of the year.
There are 75 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 42 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 17th October
- Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lankan cricketer (1965)
- Rhys Muldoon, Australian actor (1965)
- Margarita Liborio Arrazola, Mexican politician (1964)
- Gregg Wallace, English television presenter (1964)
- Sergio Goycochea, Argentinian footballer and journalist (1963)
- Toby Young, English journalist and academic (1963)
- Glenn Braggs, American baseball player (1962)
- Jay Humphries, American basketball player (1962)
- Mike Judge, American animator, director, screenwriter, producer and actor (1962)
- David Means, American short story writer (1961)
Lives Remembered on 17th October
- Bart King, American cricketer (born 1873) (1965)
- Jacques Hadamard, French mathematician and academic (born 1865) (1963)
- Natalia Goncharova, Russian painter, costume designer, and set designer (born 1882) (1962)
- Paul Outerbridge, American photographer (born 1896) (1958)
- Charlie Townsend, English cricketer and lawyer (born 1876) (1958)
- Wilhelmina Hay Abbott, Scottish suffragist and feminist (born 1884) (1957)
- Anne Crawford, Israeli-English actress (born 1920) (1956)
- Dimitrios Maximos, Greek banker and politician (born 1873) (1955)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 17th October
- Christian feast day: Andrew of Crete
- Christian feast day: Anstrudis
- Christian feast day: Catervus
- Christian feast day: Ethelred and Ethelberht
- Christian feast day: Florentius of Orange
- Christian feast day: François-Isidore Gagelin (one of Vietnamese Martyrs)
- Christian feast day: Hosea
- Christian feast day: Ignatius of Antioch
- Christian feast day: John the Short (John Colobus)
- Christian feast day: Marguerite Marie Alacoque (pre-1969 calendar, Visitadines)
- Christian feast day: Nothhelm
- Christian feast day: Rule of Andrew
- Christian feast day: Richard Gwyn
- Christian feast day: Victor of Capua
- Christian feast day: October 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- Loyalty Day (Argentina)
- National Police Day (Thailand)
- National Heroes Day (Somaliland)
What Happened on 17th October?
- An explosion at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza kills hundreds of Palestinians during the Gaza war. (2023)
- Drug dealers in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico force the government to back down on an arrest. (2019)
- The 17 October Revolution starts in Lebanon. (2019)
- The recreational use of cannabis is legalized in Canada. (2018)
- A mass shooting and bombing at Kerch Polytechnic College in Crimea kills 21 people including the attacker and injures 70 others. (2018)
- Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capture the last foothold of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Raqqa, marking the end of the Battle of Raqqa. (2017)
- A fire that lasted over 15 hours destroyed almost one third of the East Tower of the Parque Central Urban Complex in Caracas, Venezuela. (2004)
- Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze'evi is assassinated by Hamdi Quran, a member of the PFLP, thus becoming the highest-ranking Israeli to be killed by a Palestinian. (2001)
- The Hatfield rail crash leads to the collapse of Railtrack. (2000)
- Russian journalist Dmitry Kholodov is assassinated while investigating corruption in the armed forces. (1994)