International Asteroid Day

International Asteroid Day History

International Asteroid Day is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about the dangers posed by asteroids and the need to develop strategies to protect our planet from potential impacts. The inception of International Asteroid Day can be traced back to 1908, when a massive asteroid strike occurred in the Tunguska region of Siberia, Russia, causing massive explosions that leveled forests and caused widespread damage. The incident served as a wake-up call, highlighting the danger posed by space rocks and increasing interest in asteroid research.

In 2016, the United Nations declared June 30th as International Asteroid Day, calling on countries to raise awareness about the risks posed by asteroids and to promote space exploration and asteroid detection strategies. Since then, the day has been marked by a range of activities worldwide, bringing together scientists, researchers, and policymakers to collaborate on strategies to mitigate the risks of asteroid strikes.

In Australia, the event is celebrated by a range of activities, including educational programs in schools and community events aimed at educating people about the risks associated with asteroids and the importance of space exploration. The day is also marked with public lectures, documentaries, and exhibitions across the country. International Asteroid Day is observed annually on June 30th.

Top 7 Facts for 2026 International Asteroid Day in Australia

• The landing of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency mission Hayabusa2 in the Woomera Prohibited Area in 2020 remains a major point of pride for the local space industry, as it provided scientists with pristine samples from the asteroid Ryugu for ongoing study in Australian laboratories.
• Researchers have identified what may be the largest asteroid impact zone on the planet buried deep beneath the Warburton Basin in South Australia, a massive twin-impact site where two separate asteroids, each estimated to be over 10 kilometres wide, struck Earth hundreds of millions of years ago.
• A team of scientists recently discovered a unique type of cosmic glass named ananguites in the South Australian desert, which provides evidence of a previously unknown giant asteroid impact that occurred approximately 11 million years ago.
• International Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and Queen lead guitarist Brian May, whose interest in planetary defense was largely inspired by his work on the soundtrack for the film 51 Degrees North.
• A central pillar of the global movement is the 100X Asteroid Declaration, a petition that urges international space agencies to increase the rate of asteroid discovery to 100,000 per year to better protect the Earth from potential collisions.
• Astronomers are currently intensifying their observations of the asteroid Apophis, which is set to pass within a record-breaking 32,000 kilometres of Earth in 2029, bringing the 370-metre-wide rock closer to the surface than many of our own communication satellites.
• The day is held to commemorate the 1908 Tunguska event, a massive atmospheric explosion over Siberia that flattened 2,000 square kilometres of forest with a force estimated at 1,000 times that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

In the News and Trending in Australia for International Asteroid Day

Top things to do in Australia for International Asteroid Day

• Tune into the 2021 Asteroid Day program. The program will include interviews with different personnel, it will explore how technologies have changed, and it will explore what the future has in store for asteroid research.
• Stay informed about upcoming news and events. Asteroid Day periodically posts information about new asteroids that catch NASA's eye. They also feature virtual events or webinars with astronomers and scientists.
• Watch a documentary about Australian space initiatives. Here are some recommendations:
  1. The Dish (2000) - A comedy-drama based on the true story of Australia's involvement in the Apollo 11 moon landing mission.
  2. Australia's Space Race (2020) - This documentary looks into the burgeoning Australian space industry and the possibilities it holds for space exploration and asteroid-related research.
• Read a book to learn more about asteroids in Australia. Here are our suggestions:
  1. The Geology of Australia by David Johnson
  2. Impact Craters in Australia by Andrew Glikson
  3. Australia's Meteorite Craters by Alex Bevan and Ken McNamara