May 9

May 9 is the 129th day of the year (130th on a leap year) on the Gregorian calendar.http://www.infoplease.com/spot/gregorian1.html The Zodiac sign for individuals born on this day is Taurus. http://www.findyourfate.com/astrology/taurus.htm

May 9 is celebrated as Independence Day in Romania. The day marks Romania's independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877. Romania had fought on the Russian side during the Russo-Turkish War. In the 1878 Treaty of Berlin, Romania was recognized as an independent state.http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Romanian_War_of_Independence

In the United States, May 9 is celebrated as Astronomy Day. This celebration is meant to promote the study of astronomy and to spark interest in individuals. The first Astronomy Day was held in 1973, and hosted by Doug Berger, president of the Northern California Astronomical Association.http://www.astronomyday.org/

The day is also celebrated as [[Lost Sock Memorial Day]. The holiday is meant to honor socks lost in the laundry and in other various locations. Individuals are encouraged to discuss their ideas of where socks disappear to and to have fun with the unmatched socks they have.http://www.missmatchedfun.com/lost_sock_memorial_day.php There are a number of activities and crafts to do with socks, and uses for single, unmatched socks that keep them from merely being thrown out.

• 1960: The FDA announces that it will approve oral contraceptives.
• 1961: Jim Gentile becomes the first professional baseball player in history to hit grand slams in consecutive innings.

• 1955: West Germany joined NATO

1936: Italy annexed Ethiopia

• 1868: The city of Reno, Nevada was founded
• 1877: Day declared as Independence Day in Romania.

1671: Thomas Blood disguised himself as a clergyman and attempted to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.

1502: Christopher Columbus left Spain for his fourth journey to the new world.

• Romania - Independence Day
• Armenia - Victory Day

• 1985: Audrina Patridge - The Hills
• 1979: Rosario Dawson - Seven Pounds
• 1949: Billy Joel - Musician
• 1918: Mike Wallace - Journalist

• 2009: Chuck Daly - NBA Coach

• 2009: Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
• 2004: Usher - Yeah!
• 1996: Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize
• 1983: Michael Jackson - Beat It
• 1970: The Guess Who - American Woman
• 1966: The Mamas & the Papas - Monday Monday Josh Hosler: Chart Topper Archive

• 2008: Iron Man - Robert Downey Jr.
• 2007: Spider-Man 3 - Tobey Maguire
• 2006: Mission Impossible 3. - Tom Cruise
• 2005: Kingdom of Heaven - Orlando Bloom
• 2004: Van Helsing - Hugh Jackman
• 1998: Deep Impact - Tea Leoni The Numbers: Historical Box Office Charts