UK, 
US, 
Australia & 
IrelandAt A Glance
5 August 1978 at a glance
- Day of the week
- 5 August 1978 was a Saturday.
- Kent Music Report No. 1
- The Kent Music Report No. 1 was “Rivers of Babylon” by Boney M..
- Top Film of 1978
- The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1978 was Grease.
- Best-Selling Vehicle of 1978
- Australia's top-selling new vehicle in 1978 was the Holden Kingswood.
- Star sign
- The star sign for 5 August is Leo.
- Chinese zodiac
- In the Chinese zodiac, 5 August 1978 fell in the Year of the Horse.
- Birthstone
- The birthstone for August is Peridot.
- Moon phase
- The moon phase on 5 August 1978 was Waxing Crescent.
On this day: 5 August
- 1971 The first Pacific Islands Forum (then known as the "South Pacific Forum") is held in Wellington, New Zealand, with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean.
- 1973 Mars 6 is launched from the USSR.
- 1974 Watergate scandal: President Richard Nixon, under orders of the US Supreme Court, releases the "Smoking Gun" tape, recorded on June 23, 1972, clearly revealing his actions in covering up and interfering investigations into the break-in. His political support vanishes completely.
- 1979 In Afghanistan, Maoists undertake the Bala Hissar uprising against the Leninist government.
- 1981 President Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 striking air-traffic controllers who ignored his order for them to return to work.
Famous people born on 5 August
- James Gunn, American filmmaker (born 1966)
- Wendell Berry, American novelist, short story writer, poet, and essayist (1934–2026)
- Angry Anderson, Australian singer and actor (1947–2026)
- Neil Armstrong, American pilot, engineer, and astronaut, first man to walk on the Moon (1930–2012)
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.
Events of 1978 in Australia
A selection from Wikipedia's '1978 in Australia'. Not a complete list.
- 1 January – Another Vietnamese refugee boat arrives at night, from a camp off the Malaysian coast.
- 3 January – Bela Csidei, a prominent Sydney businessman, is alleged in the Darwin Magistrates' Court to have been involved in growing marijuana in the Northern Territory.
- 14 March – Stephen Matthews, aged 20, swept from the Natural Bridge off Albany, by a King Wave. Rescued by whale ship, the Cheynes II. First recorded survival of someone swept into the sea at The Gap and Natural Bridge.
Life in Australia in 1978
Prime Minister
Malcolm Fraser
Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II
Petrol (per litre)
$0.12
Loaf of Bread
$0.50
Average House
$36,000
Weekly Wage
$185.00
Or
Browse by Year
Famous Faces Born in the 1970s
Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.
Heath Ledger4 April 1979ActorView their day →Patrick Brammall30 March 1976ActorView their day →Rose Byrne24 July 1979ActressView their day →Isla Fisher3 February 1976Actress & authorView their day →Sam Worthington2 August 1976ActorView their day →Toni Collette1 November 1972Actress & musicianView their day →Joel Edgerton23 June 1974ActorView their day →Natalie Imbruglia4 February 1975Singer & actressView their day →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 →