International Asteroid Day

International Asteroid Day History

International Asteroid Day is a global event that aims to raise awareness about the importance of space exploration and the need to protect our planet from asteroid impacts. It was initiated in 2015 by a group of concerned scientists, astronauts, and enthusiasts, including astrophysicist Brian May and filmmaker Grig Richters. The date of June 30th was chosen to commemorate the Tunguska event, a massive explosion caused by an asteroid impact in Siberia on June 30th, 1908.

In Canada, International Asteroid Day is celebrated with various events and activities, such as public lectures and stargazing parties organized by astronomy clubs, universities, and museums. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) also participates in the event by highlighting Canada's expertise in asteroid research and its efforts to improve planetary defense. In 2019, the CSA announced its participation in NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, a planetary defense project aimed at deflecting the trajectory of an asteroid in space. International Asteroid Day is observed annually on June 30th.

Top 7 Facts for 2026 International Asteroid Day in Canada

• In 2026, Canada is scheduled to receive its first-ever direct physical portion of an asteroid from the OSIRIS-REx mission, with the sample arriving at a specialized curation facility currently being finalized at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec.
• The observance commemorates the anniversary of the 1908 Tunguska Event, which remains the largest asteroid impact in recorded history and was first championed as an international day by astrophysicist and Queen guitarist Brian May following the release of the film 51 Degrees North.
• Public interest is expected to be driven by the 2029 designation as the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence, an initiative centered on the once-in-a-millennium close approach of the 370-metre asteroid Apophis.
• The Canadian-led NEOSSat, also known as the Near-Earth Object Surveillance Satellite, continues to operate as the world’s first space telescope dedicated specifically to tracking asteroids and space debris, providing critical orbital data for planetary defense from its position 800 kilometres above Earth.
• Scientists from the Royal Ontario Museum and various Canadian universities are leading the national research effort to analyze the carbon-rich grains from asteroid Bennu, seeking to uncover whether such cosmic bodies originally delivered the chemical building blocks of life and water to our planet.
• The original OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has been rebranded as the OSIRIS-APEX mission and is currently maneuvering through the solar system to intercept Apophis in 2029, where it will observe how Earth's gravity physically alters the asteroid's surface during its pass within the orbit of geostationary satellites.
• Just weeks prior to the 2026 observance, the asteroid 2026 JH2 is expected to make an exceptionally close flyby within approximately 90,000 kilometres of Earth, serving as a real-time reminder of the active and unpredictable nature of near-Earth objects.

In the News and Trending in Canada for International Asteroid Day

Top things to do in Canada 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 Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds (2020). Directed by Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer, this documentary explores the cultural, scientific, and historical significance of meteorites and impact craters, including Canada's Mistastin Lake Crater.
• Read a book to learn more about asteroids in Canada. Here are some suggestions:
  1. The Canadian Space Program: From Black Brant to the International Space Station by Andrew B. Godefroy
  2. Canada and Outer Space: 50 Years in the Making edited by David Wright and Geoffrey Simmins
  3. Canada: 150 Years of Exploration and Science by Canadian Space Agency