International Asteroid Day

Every year on June 30 Asteroid Day is celebrated all across the world. This day is celebrated to raise awareness about asteroids and to protect the Earth from catastrophic events. In 1908, an asteroid caused a massive explosion in Siberia. Although no humans were killed, the explosion burned down 80 million trees. This was the biggest impact witnessed in recent history. The incident was named the Tunguska event. World Asteroid Day is celebrated on the anniversary of this event. 

Asteroids are rocky remains which float around in space. These remains are left behind from the formation of planets and solar systems. There is an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter where most of the asteroids originate. Asteroids and comets are called near-Earth objects (NEOs). The European Space Agency has been working on ways to protect the Earth from closeby NEOs. It is working on advanced telescopes which will scan large areas of the sky to spot nearby asteroids.

Asteroid Day was founded by a group of prominent people including Stephen Hawkings and Brain May, an astrophysicist and guitarist for Queen. Every year groups of astronauts and scientists come together to broadcast Asteroid Day activities live.