* Astronomy

The Manhattan Project ceased to exist on 31 December 1946
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Project

The first meeting of the Lunar Society of Birmingham was probably held on 31 December 1775
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Society_of_Birmingham#The_Lunar_Society_1775-1780

Martin Joseph Fettman is an American pathologist who flew on Space Shuttle mission STS-58 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_J._Fettman

Viktor Mikhailovich Afanasyev (born 31 December 1948) is a colonel in the Russian Air Force 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Mikhailovich_Afanasyev

Jacques Cartier (December 31, 1491 - September 1, 1557) was a French explorer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Cartier

Jeremy Bernstein (born Dec. 31, 1929, Rochester, N.Y., U.S.) is an American physicist
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/62638/Jeremy-Bernstein

Sir John Eric Sidney Thompson (31 December 1898 - 9 September 1975) was a English Mesoamerican archaeologist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Eric_S._Thompson

Robert Grant Aitken (December 31, 1864 - October 29, 1951) was an American astronomer. 
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t47017288/robert-grant-aitken-1864-1951/

George Willis Ritchey (December 31, 1864 - November 4, 1945) was an American optician
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Willis_Ritchey

NGC 2192 was discovered by William Herschel on the 31st December 1788.
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t56094372/ngc-2192/

NGC 2358 was discovered by William Herschel on the 31st December 1785.
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t56094391/ngc-2358/

NGC 2419 was discovered by William Herschel on December 31, 1788
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_2419

NGC 2811 was discovered by William Herschel on the 31st December 1785.
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t56094408/ngc-2811/

NGC 2848 was discovered by William Herschel on the 31st December 1785.
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t56094475/ngc-2848/

NGC 3031 was discovered by Johann Elert Bode on the 31st December 1774.
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t8893008/messier-81/

NGC 3034 was discovered Johann Elert Bode on the 31st December 1774.
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t5341621/messier-82/

NGC 3708 was discovered by Ormond Stone on the 31st December 1885.
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t56094640/ngc-3708/

NGC 5037 was discovered by William Herschel on the 31st December 1785.
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t56094657/ngc-5037/

NGC 5044 was discovered by William Herschel on the 31st December 1785.
http://astronomy.activeboard.com/t56094680/ngc-5044/