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Top / Sun, 30 Jun 2024 India Today

International Asteroid Day 2024: Date, history, significance

advertisementTo educate the public, International Asteroid Day is observed annually. Here are key details to keep in mind:International Asteroid Day 2024: DateInternational Asteroid Day is observed every year on June 30. International Asteroid Day 2024: HistoryThe origins of International Asteroid Day trace back to the Tunguska Event of 1908, a significant asteroid occurrence in Siberia's Krasnoyarsk Krai region. Founded by notable figures including Stephen Hawking, an Apollo 9 astronaut, and Brian May, guitarist of Queen and astrophysicist, International Asteroid Day was officially established in 2014. Celebrating International Asteroid Day involves deepening our understanding of asteroids, and their potential impacts, and fostering interest in asteroid-related activities and research.

The universe holds countless surprises, with asteroids standing out as intriguing phenomena. Neither planets nor comets, asteroids are objects within the inner solar system, ranging from metallic, icy bodies to rocky formations. Lacking their atmosphere, asteroids vary widely in size and shape; they can range from small rubble piles to objects rivalling dwarf planets with diameters exceeding 1000 kilometres. Despite their diverse appearances, asteroids pose potential dangers when they enter Earth's atmosphere, underscoring the importance of raising awareness about their impact hazards.

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To educate the public, International Asteroid Day is observed annually.

Here are key details to keep in mind:

International Asteroid Day 2024: Date

International Asteroid Day is observed every year on June 30. In 2024, this falls on a Sunday.

International Asteroid Day 2024: History

The origins of International Asteroid Day trace back to the Tunguska Event of 1908, a significant asteroid occurrence in Siberia's Krasnoyarsk Krai region. This event, characterised by the absence of a crater and eyewitness accounts of a massive explosion, marked one of recorded history's most substantial asteroid impacts. Founded by notable figures including Stephen Hawking, an Apollo 9 astronaut, and Brian May, guitarist of Queen and astrophysicist, International Asteroid Day was officially established in 2014. In 2016, the United Nations designated June 30th as the annual observance day.

June 30 was specifically chosen to commemorate the Tunguska Event. Celebrating International Asteroid Day involves deepening our understanding of asteroids, and their potential impacts, and fostering interest in asteroid-related activities and research.

Published By: vaishnavi parashar Published On: Jun 30, 2024

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