Today is Thursday, October 17: the 291st day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. The year will end in 75 days.
The sun will rise at 7:05 Moscow time, and at 17:26 it will go below the horizon. At 12:16 the luminary will be at its zenith.
Daylight hours will last 10 hours 20 minutes, and darkness will last 13 hours 40 minutes.
Church holidays
Week 17 after Pentecost. No fast. Commemoration day of the holy martyr Hierotheus, Bishop of Athens.
Name days: Vasily, Veronica, Vladimir, Gury, Dmitry, Erofey, Jonah, Mikhail, Nikolai, Pavel, Peter, Stepan, Tikhon, Yakov.
Secular holidays
In Russia, October 17 is the Day of the Local Therapist.
Today the world celebrates World Poverty Eradication Day and International Credit Union Day.
Events of October 17
In 1918, Hungary declared independence from Austria.
In 1933, Albert Einstein arrived in the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany.
In 1956, the world's first automatic mobile phone system was launched in Sweden.
In 1979, Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1990, Vneshtorgbank, now known as VTB, was founded.
Who was born on October 17
In 1734, Prince, General Feldzeugmeister and favourite of Catherine II, Grigory Orlov, was born.
In 1889, the actress, People's Artist of the RSFSR Alisa Koonen was born.
In 1911, Soviet animator Mikhail Druyan was born.
In 1972, Turkish singer Tarkan and American rapper Eminem were born.
Folk omens
A harsh and snowy winter is expected if a strong wind blows on Yerofey.
Frost on the trees foretells the approach of cold weather.
A warm day promises a mild winter.
