The night sky over Atlanta when Hank Aaron hit 715
On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run. It broke the record of 714 that Babe Ruth had held since 1935.
The home run came in the fourth inning, off Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium. Reliever Tom House caught the ball in the Braves bullpen and ran it to Aaron at home plate.
The sky above Atlanta, Georgia on April 8, 1974
The sky was almost fully dark, with a trace of twilight left. There was a waning gibbous Moon, 94% lit, but it was below the horizon. Mars and Saturn were above the horizon and could be seen without a telescope.
The sky is almost fully dark, but a trace of twilight still hides the faintest stars.
- Local time
- 9:07 p.m.
- Time in UTC
- April 9, 1974 at 1:07 a.m. UTC
- Sun
- Astronomical twilight
- Sun position
- 14° below the horizon
- Moon phase
- waning gibbous Moon
- Moon lit
- 94%
- Moon position
- 14° below the horizon
| Planet | Visible | Direction | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | No | northwest | -36° |
| Venus | No | northwest | -57° |
| Mars | Yes | west | 49° |
| Jupiter | No | northwest | -53° |
| Saturn | Yes | west | 53° |
| Uranus | With a telescope | east | 7° |
| Neptune | No | east | -34° |
| Star | Constellation | Direction | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sirius | Canis Major | southwest | 33° |
| Arcturus | Boötes | east | 15° |
| Capella | Auriga | northwest | 50° |
| Rigel | Orion | southwest | 26° |
| Procyon | Canis Minor | southwest | 58° |
| Betelgeuse | Orion | southwest | 44° |
| Aldebaran | Taurus | west | 33° |
| Pollux | Gemini | southwest | 77° |
| Regulus | Leo | southeast | 60° |
| Adhara | Canis Major | southwest | 23° |
36 constellations are above the horizon. Highest in the sky: Lynx, Cancer, Leo Minor, Gemini, Leo, Canis Minor, Ursa Major, Auriga, Sextans, Monoceros, Hydra and Canes Venatici.
What happened that night
Aaron had tied Ruth's record four days earlier in Cincinnati. Back home in Atlanta, a crowd that filled the stadium waited for one more swing.
As Aaron rounded the bases, two fans ran onto the field and jogged beside him for a few steps. His mother hugged him at home plate.
Why people remember it
Aaron chased the record while he received hate mail and threats. He kept playing, and he finished his career with 755 home runs.
A star map of this night suits a baseball fan, a Braves fan, or anyone who admires quiet strength under pressure.
Questions about this night
It shows 9:07 pm Eastern Daylight Time on April 8, 1974, the minute of the home run.
He hit it off Al Downing, a left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
At Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The stadium was demolished in 1997. A marker at the old stadium site shows where the ball went over.