June 30 is observed annually as World Asteroid Day, commemorating the catastrophic Tunguska event of June 30, 1908. On that date, a small asteroid exploded over Siberia, flattening around 2,150 km² of forest—making it the largest recorded asteroid-related explosion on Earth.
Asteroid Day was initiated in 2014 by a coalition of scientists and thinkers, including physicist-turned-musician Brian May, NASA astronaut Rusty Schweickart, and the B612 Foundation, among others. By 2016, the United Nations officially designated June 30 as International Asteroid Day, aiming to educate the public on asteroid detection and the importance of planetary defense.
The event promotes global cooperation through educational activities—webinars, lectures, workshops—organized by museums, universities, NGOs, and space agencies. A key initiative, the “100X Declaration,” calls for boosting the annual detection rate of near-Earth asteroids to 100,000 within a decade, urging greater scientific investment.
Asteroid Day is both a reminder of the potential threat posed by celestial objects and a celebration of scientific progress—from studying Solar System origins to exploring asteroid mining. This June 30, experts worldwide are encouraging public participation to foster awareness and resilience in anticipation of future asteroid challenges.
