December 17: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu, causing widespread damage and killing fourteen people.

Scientists discovered the world’s first “true” millipede in Western Australia.

Previously, the most legs any known millipede had was 750. The newly discovered species, "Eumillipes Persephone," has over 1,306 legs, making it the first to truly match the Latin meaning of "millipede," which means "thousand legs."

Australia recorded its hottest day ever with an average temperature of 105°F across the country.

Dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster’s stated their word of the year was “justice.”

NASA completed a successful mission to map the Moon’s gravity field.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was released in theaters.

The movie made $72 million on its opening weekend and became the second film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.

The first full-length episode of The Simpsons aired on FOX.

The episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 1990 and received positive reviews from television critics. Approximately 13.4 million people watched it during its original airing.

American mafia hitman Richard Kuklinski was arrested at a roadblock.

After Special Agent Polifrone went undercover to lure out Kuklinski, Polifrone gave Kuklinski some fake cyanide to use for a murder. Kuklinski found out later that it was fake and decided to not go through with the hit but was arrested at a roadblock on his way home.

Terrorists attacked Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino International Airport, leaving thirty dead.

Shortly before Pan-Am flight 110 departed from the airport, five armed Palestinian terrorists walked out onto the tarmac and started shooting at the plane. During the attack, the aircraft itself was destroyed, but most passengers were able to escape with their lives.

The Houston Astrodome opened.

The Astrodome was the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas. The first event held was a concert with Judy Garland and The Supremes.

The Boeing B-47 Stratojet Strategic bomber plane made its first flight.

The first sustained motorized aircraft flight took place.

Piloted by Orville Wright in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright brothers finally made their first successful aircraft flight. The aircraft traveled about 850 feet in one minute.

The first issue of Vogue magazine was published.

The Aztec Sun Stone was discovered in Mexico City.

The stone features markings that indicate central components of Aztec beliefs in regards to the universe, the sun, and the link between various ideologies such as warfare.

Pope Paul III excommunicated King Henry VIII of England.

The festival of Saturnalia was first celebrated after a temple to the Roman god Saturn was built in Rome.