Latest news with #AsteroidDay
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Asteroid Day 2025: 5 deadly asteroid events Earth didn't see coming
Most of the time, asteroids pass Earth unnoticed, lost in the vastness of space. But not always. A few have made their way down– and when they did, the consequences were devastating. Some left behind craters, others wiped out entire ecosystems. That's why June 30 is marked as Asteroid Day, a global reminder of what these space rocks are capable of. The date goes back to 1908, when a huge explosion above Siberia– now known as the Tunguska event– flattened forests across Russia. Here are five times in Earth's history when asteroids didn't just fly by– they struck hard. Chelyabinsk, Russia – 2013 In February 2013, a bright light appeared in the sky over Chelyabinsk. At first, it looked like a shooting star, but then it exploded in the air. The blast was so strong that it broke windows across the city. Alarms rang out, and people rushed to take cover. More than 1,500 people were hurt, mostly by broken glass. The asteroid, about 20 metres wide, broke apart around 30 kilometres above the ground. It didn't leave a crater, but it still caused serious damage. The entire event was caught on security cameras, making it clear that space threats are real– and can happen without warning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Tunguska, Siberia – 1908 It happened early one morning over the forests of Siberia. A massive explosion shook the sky, and trees fell across the land for miles. There was no visible fireball, just a wave of destruction that spread through the wilderness. Nearly 80 million trees were knocked down. People in nearby villages felt the ground shake. For days, the sky stayed unusually bright at night. Scientists believe a 100-metre-wide asteroid exploded in the air before reaching the ground. No crater was found, but the damage covered 2,000 square kilometres. It's still the biggest asteroid-related explosion recorded in modern history. Meteor Crater , Arizona – 50,000 years ago In the desert of northern Arizona, there's a well-preserved crater about 1.2 kilometres wide. It was created thousands of years ago by a 50-metre-wide metallic asteroid, long before humans lived in the area. Today, it's called Meteor Crater or Barringer Crater, and scientists still study it to understand how planets react to powerful impacts. Unlike many old craters that have worn away over time, this one has stayed mostly intact, offering a rare look into Earth's ancient past. Chesapeake Bay, USA – 35 million years ago Long before Chesapeake Bay existed, a massive asteroid hit what is now the eastern coast of the United States. The impact created a huge 85-kilometre-wide crater, which is now hidden beneath rock and water. Years later, scientists used seismic surveys to find the shape of the crater beneath the bay. The asteroid was likely around 2 kilometres wide. The strike changed the region's underground structure and even affected how water flows and how the coastline looks today. Chicxulub, Mexico – 66 million years ago This is the asteroid impact most people hear about in school– the one linked to the extinction of the dinosaurs. The asteroid itself was huge, about 10 kilometres wide, but the real damage came from what happened after it hit. The collision sparked massive wildfires, threw dust into the air, blocked sunlight, and caused temperatures to drop. Ecosystems broke down, and nearly 75% of all life on Earth disappeared. The Chicxulub Crater, found beneath Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, still marks the site of that impact– and the global silence that followed.
NDTV
29-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Here's Why June 30 Is Celebrated As World Asteroid Day
The world celebrates June 30 as World Asteroid Day to commemorate the Tunguska event, a massive asteroid explosion that occurred over Russia's Siberia on the same day in 1908. This event is considered the largest asteroid impact in Earth's recent history, flattening around 2,000 square kilometres of forest and releasing energy equivalent to 185 Hiroshima bombs. The event's remoteness led to a lack of immediate attention, both within Russia and globally. The first scientific expedition didn't reach the area until 1927, nearly 19 years after the event. Despite the delay, the expedition found extensive evidence of the asteroid's impact, including shock wave damage and heat blast effects. World Asteroid Day aims to educate the public about asteroid risks and impact hazards. It encourages investment in space science and technology. The awareness also helps in developing strategies for asteroid detection, tracking and deflection. This year, the world celebrates the 10th anniversary of Asteroid Day. UN adopted a resolution for asteroid awareness The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/71/90 in December 2016, declaring June 30 International Asteroid Day in order to recognise the global importance of asteroid impact awareness and the need for cooperation to prevent potential threats. The decision by the General Assembly was taken after a proposal by the Association of Space Explorers, which was endorsed by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). International Year of Asteroid Awareness The UN has declared 2029 the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence, coinciding with the close approach of asteroid 99942 Apophis. On April 13, 2029, Apophis will safely pass within 32,000 kilometres of Earth's surface, closer than some geostationary satellites. It will be visible to the naked eye in parts of Europe, Africa and Western Asia. Apophis is approximately 340 meters in diameter, roughly the size of three football fields. It is currently orbiting the Sun every 323 days, but its orbit will change after the 2029 flyby. Apophis will appear as a bright, fast-moving point of light in the sky. Its close approach offers a rare opportunity for scientists to study asteroids. NASA's DART mission NASA has already tested planetary defence strategies with its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) space mission. The DART mission was the first-ever mission aimed at demonstrating the kinetic impactor technique, a method of deflecting asteroids by intentionally crashing a spacecraft into them.
Forbes
27-06-2025
- Science
- Forbes
The Chilling Reason That Monday Is ‘Asteroid Day' — And Why To Celebrate It In Arizona
Artwork of an asteroid and planet earth. It's officially Asteroid Day on Monday, June 30, when astronomers from around the world come together to raise public awareness about the risks and opportunities brought by space rocks. Asteroids have been in the news a lot in 2025. It all started with 2024 YR4, which was predicted to strike Earth on December 22, 2032, before further observations allowed astronomers to refine its orbit and rule out a direct hit. Now, it appears to be heading for the moon instead. Then, the 2008 DG5 asteroid — known to be larger than 97% of others — zipped by Earth in early June. Tunguska Event So why Jun. 30 for the United Nations-sanctioned "Asteroid Day?" On that date in 1908, an asteroid about 330 feet (100 meters) in diameter entered Earth's atmosphere and exploded above Siberia in Russia. It destroyed 770 square miles (2,000 square kilometers) of Siberian forest. This is the Tunguska event, the largest recorded asteroid impact on Earth. One hundred seventeen years later, it's a reminder of what can happen at any time. Meteor Crater Although stony asteroids tend to explode before they strike Earth in what's known as an airburst — which occurred over Tunguska and also over Chelyabinsk, Russia's seventh-largest city, in 2013 — some leave impact craters on Earth. One of the world's best-preserved and most iconic meteorite impact sites is Meteor Crater, 20 minutes west of Winslow, Arizona. It was formed around 50,000 years ago when a 150-foot-wide iron-nickel asteroid traveling at 26,000 mph carved out a crater nearly a mile wide, 2.5 miles in circumference, and over 550 feet deep. It's a fitting venue for Asteroid Day in Arizona, an event combining science and stargazing. Asteroid Day In Arizona The concept of Asteroid Day originated from Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Danica Remy from the planetary defense non-profit B612 Foundation, and Brian May, Queen guitarist and astrophysicist, who founded it in 2014. This year, Schweickart will speak at Meteor Crater, along with astronomer Scott Manley and Mary Robinette Kowal, author of the Lady Astronaut series. Meteor Crater will host daytime events from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. MST, with Lowell Observatory from nearby Flagstaff will host evening activities from 5-11 p.m. MST. Expect programs about how scientists look for asteroids, their impacts on Earth, and how Apollo astronauts studied Meteor Crater to prepare for their voyages to the impact-scarred moon. There will also be a talk on sun-grazing comets from Lowell Observatory's comet expert Dr. Qicheng Zhang. 'God Of Chaos' Bound to be under discussion on Asteroid Day is asteroid Apophis, an asteroid as wide as the Empire State Building is tall, which will come closer to Earth than orbiting geosynchronous satellites in a very rare event. The ominous flyby will occur on Friday, April 13, 2029 — less than four years away. If Apophis did strike Earth, it could spread devastation across a radius of hundreds of miles, according to killing millions of people if it struck a highly populated metropolitan area. However, it's not a threat. Despite its enormous size, Apophis will not impact Earth in 2029, but its very close pass is a once-on-a-lifetime opportunity to gather data that could be critical for humanity's future. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Cision Canada
26-06-2025
- Science
- Cision Canada
B612 Foundation Announces Winner of Prestigious Schweickart Prize: Imperial College London's Jordan Stone Leads Winning Proposal for International Panel on Asteroid Orbit Alteration, Recognized for its Foresight in Planetary Defense
SAN FRANCISCO, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ -- B612 Foundation today announced the recipient of the annual Schweickart Prize, a program that recognizes original student proposals seeking to advance humanity's understanding of and preparedness for asteroid impacts. This year's honor goes to a forward-thinking proposal advocating for the creation of the Panel on Asteroid Orbit Alteration (PAOA), an international coordination body designed to proactively address the emerging risks of unintended asteroid orbit changes resulting from human space activities. "The Schweickart Prize, a program of B612, was established to honor the spirit of innovation and collaborative problem-solving exemplified by Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart, whose pioneering work in space has continuously pushed the boundaries of human endeavor and safety," said Danica Remy, President of B612 and Co-founder of Asteroid Day. "This year's winning proposal truly embodies that spirit by anticipating a critical future challenge in space and offering a thoughtful, actionable solution to safeguard our planet." The winning proposal, developed by students Jordan Stone (Imperial College London), Jim Buhler (University of Santiago de Compostela), Youssef Saleh (Cairo University), and Kosuke Ikeya (Imperial College London), highlights the increasing likelihood of human space activities – including asteroid mining, scientific research missions, and even spacecraft malfunctions – inadvertently altering the orbits of near-Earth objects. The creation of the PAOA is proposed as a vital step to mitigate these potential risks. This international body would be tasked with establishing comprehensive scientific, technical, and policy guidelines to manage such risks, ensuring a coordinated and effective planetary defense response as the space industry continues its rapid expansion. "As humanity ventures further into space, the potential for unintended consequences grows," stated Jordan Stone, lead on the winning proposal. "The PAOA can serve as a critical international framework, fostering collaboration among nations and experts to ensure that our pursuit of space exploration and resource utilization is conducted responsibly, without jeopardizing Earth's safety. We are incredibly honored to receive the Schweickart Prize for this timely and essential initiative." The Schweickart Prize recognizes individuals or teams of students whose work demonstrates exceptional foresight and addresses complex issues at the intersection of space exploration, planetary defense, and global cooperation. The award aims to foster innovative solutions that protect our planet and ensure the long-term sustainability of human activities in space. Honorable Mentions: B612 also extends its recognition to the other outstanding proposals that demonstrated significant merit and innovative thinking in addressing critical aspects of planetary defense. This year's honorable mentions include: Asteroid Impact Guidance and Information System, by Chloe Long (University of Colorado Boulder), Anivid Pedros-Faura (University of Colorado Boulder), Rahil Makadia (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) YOSO (You Only Stack Once) for Detecting Unseen NEO Threats, by Nitya Pandey (University of Chile) The official presentation of the physical museum quality prize and the $10,000 USD award will take place at a public ceremony at Lowell Observatory on June 30th, coinciding with Asteroid Day. Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart and B612 President Danica Remy will present the prize in person to Jordan Stone at this special event. The public is warmly welcome to join this special event to celebrate the winners, and also at Meteor Crater. To learn more about the joint Asteroid Day programs at Meteor Crater and Lowell, see here. Additionally, Imperial College London will host an event in the fall to honor Jordan and the team, made possible with financial support from B612. Further details on the winning proposal can be found at Event information for Flagstaff Asteroid Day at Meteor Crater and Lowell Observatory is available on the Asteroid Day Arizona website. About B612 Foundation and the Schweickart Prize The Schweickart Prize, a program of B612, is an annual award to foster a new generation of leaders in planetary defense and to encourage ideas to help protect Earth from potential asteroid impacts. The prize is named after Russell "Rusty" Schweickart, renowned Apollo 9 astronaut, co-founder of the Association of Space Explorers, and co-founder of B612. For more information, visit The founding sponsors who have generously funded the Schweickart Prize program include Anousheh Ansari, Barringer Crater Company, Future Ventures, Geoffrey Notkin, Jurvetson Family Foundation, Meteor Crater, Randy Schweickart and Michelle Heng, and Rusty B. Schweickart and Joanne Keys. Since 2002, B612 has developed tools and technologies to understand, map, and navigate our solar system and protect our planet from asteroid impacts through its Asteroid Institute program and supporting educational programs, including Asteroid Day and the Schweickart Prize. Leadership Circle members, including Laurie Girand and Scott McGregor, William K. Bowes, Jr Foundation, Tito's CHEERS, and Maryann and John Montrym, alongside Founding Circle and Asteroid Circle members and individual donors from 46 countries, support the work financially. For more information, visit or follow on social: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Bluesky.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Asteroid Day Gains Momentum with U.S. Recognition from Flagstaff, Coconino County, U.S. Senate, and Vera C. Rubin Observatory Data Release
LUXEMBOURG, June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asteroid Foundation, working in collaboration with B612 Foundation, founding sponsor of Asteroid Day, is proud to announce significant advancements in the global recognition of June 30th as Asteroid Day. Following the United Nations' historic designation of the date as International Asteroid Day in 2016, local and national governments in the United States are now joining in to formally recognize this important awareness initiative. Since its inception, hundreds of independently organized Asteroid Day events have been taking place globally, calling attention to the critical need for awareness of both the dangers and possibilities associated with asteroids. This year, the movement celebrates official recognition from Flagstaff, Arizona, Coconino County, Arizona, and the United States Senate, marking a pivotal moment in bringing asteroid awareness to the forefront of public consciousness in the USA. Notably, these local, city, and national recognitions are the first in the world to highlight the profound importance of Asteroid Day in inspiring the next generation through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) activities. "As a retired astronaut, I know firsthand the importance of space research. Asteroid Day is a critical initiative that not only raises awareness about planetary defense but also ignites curiosity and inspires the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers to pursue careers in STEAM. I'm proud to introduce a resolution recognizing Asteroid Day in the United States Senate," said retired astronaut and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ). The Senate resolution was introduced in partnership with U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). "B612 Foundation, as the founding sponsor of Asteroid Day and a leading voice in asteroid analysis and mapping and planetary defense, championed the development of the 100x Declaration, a call to action that launched the global Asteroid Day movement. 'We are humbled and excited to see that in addition to the United Nations recognizing Asteroid Day on 6 December 2016, both Arizona and the United States government are now following suit,' said Danica Remy, Asteroid Day Co-founder and President of B612. 'I am additionally delighted that the US National Science Foundation and Department of Energy Vera Rubin Observatory is using Asteroid Day to release its first data product for scientists and the public. This growing momentum highlights the critical importance of understanding asteroid risks and opportunities for humanity's future." "This global movement would not have been possible without the visionary leadership of the Government of Luxembourg, particularly the contributions of former Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider, today's CEO of Luxembourg's state innovation agency Luxinnovation Mario Grotz, and today's CEO of Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) Marc Serres. Their efforts, alongside former NASA Ames Director Pete Worden and former Consul General and Executive Director Luxembourg Trade & Investment San Francisco Georges Schmit, as well as the dedicated leadership of the Asteroid Foundation board of directors, have amplified the Asteroid Day program globally," said Markus Payer, Chair of Asteroid Foundation. "The Luxembourg government's invitation to Asteroid Day co-founders, Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Danica Remy, Grig Richters and Dr. Brian May, to establish the Asteroid Foundation in Luxembourg in 2017 provided the essential groundwork. This commitment was further solidified by the ongoing leadership of the LSA, which has played an instrumental role in supporting Asteroid Day's global program, alongside Luxembourg's rich local and cross-European in-person year-round initiatives." Asteroid Day serves as a global platform to educate the public about the exciting prospects of asteroid resource utilization and their role in understanding the origins of our universe, while also covering the role of asteroids in our solar system and the science and technology being developed to detect, track, and ultimately mitigate potential threats. About Asteroid Foundation: A Luxembourg based nonprofit, founded 2017, is the home of Asteroid Day and is dedicated to promoting public awareness and education about asteroids and space. Through global events, educational initiatives, and strategic partnerships, the Foundation strives to inspire a greater understanding of asteroids and their significance to our planet and humanity's future in space. For more information, visit or follow on social: Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. About B612 Foundation: A United States based nonprofit, founded in 2002, develops tools and technologies to understand, map, and navigate our solar system and protect our planet from asteroid impacts through its Asteroid Institute program and supporting educational programs, including Asteroid Day and the Schweickart Prize. Founding Circle and Asteroid Circle members and individual donors from 46 countries support the work financially. For more information, visit or follow on social: Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin or Bluesky. View original content: SOURCE Asteroid Foundation
