World Asteroid Day
The universe is full of surprises, and asteroids are one of them. They are not planets or comets. Asteroids are objects, metallic or icy bodies, or rocks that orbit within the inner solar system. Asteroids do not have their own atmosphere and vary in shape and size.
Sometimes, an asteroid can be as small as a small pile of rubble and as large as a dwarf planet with a diameter of 1000 kilometers. However, asteroids can cause severe damage if they enter Earth’s atmosphere. It is necessary to create awareness about asteroid impact and how dangerous it is. To make people aware, International Asteroid Day is observed every year.
While preparing to observe this important day, here are some things to keep in mind.
What is an asteroid?
Asteroids are rocky remnants from the formation of the Solar System 4.6 billion years ago. They orbit the Sun and are sometimes called planets or minor planets. Asteroids are mainly composed of minerals and rocks, while comets are composed of dust and ice. Meteorites can be dust particles or fragments from a comet or asteroid.
International Asteroid Day 2024
Every year, International Asteroid Day is observed on June 30. This year, International Asteroid Day falls on Sunday. History of International Asteroid Day
In 1908, an asteroid event, also known as the Tunguska event, occurred in the Siberian desert region; The area is now referred to as Krasnoyarsk Territory. The asteroid left no impact crater – it is believed to have disintegrated after entering Earth’s surface. Eyewitnesses confirmed the event, and the event is cited as one of the largest asteroid impacts recorded in human history. They founded International Asteroid Day with others including Stephen Hawking, Apollo 9 astronaut and Queen’s guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May. In 2014, the day was officially launched. In 2016, the United Nations declared the day to be celebrated every year.
Significance of International Asteroid Day
June 30 was chosen as International Asteroid Day in honor of the Tunguska event. A great way to spend the day is learning more about asteroids, understanding how they can affect us, and becoming more interested in asteroid events.