October 5th is the 278th day of the year (279th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 87 days remaining until the end of the year. This date is slightly more likely to fall on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday (58 in 400 years each) than on Saturday or Sunday (57), and slightly less likely to occur on a Tuesday or Thursday (56).

On this day in history:

539 BC – The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon.

1793 – French Revolution: Christianity is disestablished in France.

1914 – World War I: First aerial combat resulting in an intentional fatality.

1938 – In Nazi Germany, Jews’ passports are invalidated; those who needed a passport for emigration purposes are given one marked with the letter “J” (for “Jude”, or Jew).

1945 – Hollywood Black Friday: A six-month strike by Hollywood set decorators turns into a bloody riot at the gates of Warner Brothers’ studios.

1962 – Dr. No, the first in the James Bond film series, is released.

1962 – The Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do” backed with “P.S. I Love You”, is released in the United Kingdom.

Celebrity Birthdays:

Titanic Star Kate Winslet turns 42

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson turns 59

The Social Network Star Jesse Eisenberg turns 34

Socialite Nicky Hilton turns 34

Before I Wake Actor Jacob Tremblay turns 11

Happy Birthday to all October 5th babies!