At A Glance
17 August 1988 at a glance
- Day of the week
- 17 August 1988 was a Wednesday.
- ARIA No. 1
- The ARIA No. 1 was “Perfect” by Fairground Attraction.
- Top Film of 1988
- The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1988 was Rain Man.
- Best-Selling Vehicle of 1988
- Australia's top-selling new vehicle in 1988 was the Ford Falcon.
- Star sign
- The star sign for 17 August is Leo.
- Chinese zodiac
- In the Chinese zodiac, 17 August 1988 fell in the Year of the Dragon.
- Birthstone
- The birthstone for August is Peridot.
- Moon phase
- The moon phase on 17 August 1988 was Waxing Crescent.
On this day: 17 August
- 1977 The Soviet icebreaker Arktika becomes the first surface ship to reach the North Pole.
- 1978 Double Eagle II becomes first balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean when it lands in Miserey, France near Paris, 137 hours after leaving Presque Isle, Maine.
- 1985 The 1985–86 Hormel strike begins in Austin, Minnesota.
- 1998 Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an "improper physical relationship" with White House intern Monica Lewinsky; later that same day he admits before the nation that he "misled people" about the relationship.
- 2004 The National Assembly of Serbia unanimously adopts new state symbols for Serbia: Bože pravde becomes the new anthem and the coat of arms is adopted for the whole country.
Famous people born on 17 August
- Robert De Niro, American actor, entrepreneur, director, and producer (born 1943)
- Phoebe Bridgers, American singer/songwriter (born 1994)
- Sean Penn, American actor, director, and political activist (born 1960)
- Larry Ellison, American businessman, co-founded the Oracle Corporation (born 1944)
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.
Events of 1988 in Australia
A selection from Wikipedia's '1988 in Australia'. Not a complete list.
- 17 January – The TV soap Home and Away is launched by Seven Network.
- 26 January – Australia Day, Australia celebrates its bicentennial day with the arrival of the First Fleet Re-enactment Voyage and a tall ships parade in Sydney Harbour.
- 19 March – Nick Greiner and the Liberal Party win the 1988 New South Wales state election in a landside, removing the ALP government of Barrie Unsworth.
Life in Australia in 1988
Prime Minister
Bob Hawke
Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II
Petrol (per litre)
$0.55
Loaf of Bread
$1.02
Average House
$92,000
Weekly Wage
$470.00
Or
Browse by Year
Famous Faces Born in the 1980s
Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.
Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
About The Day You Were Born
Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.
About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →
