PURPOSE: The International Asteroid Day aims to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard and to inform the public about the crisis and communication actions to be taken at the global level in case of a credible near-Earth object threat. The NASA JPL have developed the Sentry, a highly automated collision monitoring system that continually scans the most current asteroid catalog for possibilities of future impact with Earth over the next 100 years. Whenever a potential impact is detected it will be analyzed and the results immediately published here, except in unusual cases where we seek independent confirmation. It is normal that, as additional observations become available, objects will disappear from the table whenever there are no longer any potential impact detections. For this reason we maintain a list of removed objects with the date of removal. To learn more about the system read the Frenquently asked questions.
FORUM: “Small is Beautiful.” International Asteroid Day 2024. 116 years ago, a bolide exploded over Tunguska, flattening about 80 million trees. This year forum will be built around seven panel discussions that will tell the full story of asteroids; from the formation of the Solar System, 4.6 billion years ago, to the scientific work taking place today, and our future prospects as we begin to imagine ways to utilise the resources asteroids contain. The panels will explore: the origin of the solar system, how we discover and track Near-Earth asteroids, how we characterise an asteroid according to its composition, orbit and other physical properties, how we will defend Earth if and when we spot a threatening asteroid, what resources we may find on asteroids and elsewhere in the Solar System, how we can utilise space in a sustainable way, and what future missions and technology we have to look forward to. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #asteroids, #comets, #30june, #asteroidday.
EVENTS: June 30th marks the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation in 1908. The Tunguska asteroid event was the Earth's largest asteroid impact in recorded history. The UNOOSA, The European Space Agency, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), The Luxembourg Space Agency and The Asteroid Foundation held a webinar on June 30th. Running the entire month of June, Asteroid Day TV have prepared a collection of asteroid-related content including interviews, documentaries, cartoons, missions in progress and much more. The content streamed will be suitable for a range of ages and knowledge basis – you don’t need to be an expert to understand.
PODCASTS: As a part of NASA’s overall planetary defense strategy, DART’s impact with the asteroid Dimorphos demonstrates a viable mitigation technique for protecting the planet from an Earth-bound asteroid or comet, if one were discovered. Listen the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Growing awareness of the threats to the long-term sustainability of space has prompted governments to take action at both the national and international level. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
The International Asteroid Day as observed annually on 30 June is the United Nations sanctioned day of public awareness of the risks of asteroid impacts.
The objectives are to educate the public about the risks and opportunities of asteroids year-round by hosting events, providing educational resources and regular communications to our global audience on multiple digital platforms.
ACTIONS
Learn more about the Tunguska event in 1908, a highly destructive asteroid explosion that occurred in a remote area of Siberia.
Invite all United Nations Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe International Asteroid Day.
Build a dynamic awareness and educational program to Encourage reflection on the impact hazard of asteroids
Inspire the world about asteroids – their role in the formation of our universe, how we can use their resources, how asteroids can pave the way for future exploration and finally how we can protect our planet from asteroid impacts.
PARTNERSHIPS
The International Asteroid Day is hosted by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA); the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).the International Space Station, the Russian Space program, the ROSCOSMOS, the Yuri’s night, the European Space Agency (ESA), the NASA; the NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO), the Japanese Space Agency (Jaxa); the Canadian Space Agency; the Australian Space Program and Research; the Indian National Committee for Space Research, the China National Space Administration