World Asteroid Day: Awareness, detection and defense against asteroid threats

It is World Asteroid Day today, and it is observed on June 30 to honor the cataclysmic Tunguska asteroid explosion that happened on this day in 1908 over Siberia, Russia. It is one of the biggest asteroid hits in Earth’s recent past and razed a 2,000-square-kilometer area of forest and unleashed energy that was equal to 185 Hiroshima bombs. Although it is located far away, scientists did not reach the site until 1927, almost 19 years after, but discovered a vast record of the impact of the asteroid.

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 2016, setting June 30 as International Asteroid Day to create awareness about asteroid threats and impact danger. It was taken following a recommendation by the Association of Space Explorers, supported by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The aim is to inform people and stimulate investment in space science and technology to build asteroid detection, tracking, and deflection strategies.

The 10th anniversary of Asteroid Day has been reached this year. The world is also gearing up for a rare celestial event in 2029, when asteroid 99942 Apophis will safely pass within 32,000 kilometers of Earth’s surface. This asteroid, approximately 340 meters in diameter, will be visible to the naked eye in parts of Europe, Africa, and Western Asia, offering scientists a rare opportunity to study asteroids. NASA already conducted tests for planetary defense with its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) space mission, showing the kinetic impactor method to deflect asteroids.

The UN has announced 2029 to be the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence, with a focus on cooperation to avoid imminent asteroid attacks. Since Apophis revolves around the Sun every 323 days, its close flyby will give us more insight into asteroid behavior and defense strategies. With continued research in asteroid detection and tracking, the world is more prepared to face any potential threats and save our planet.

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