June 30 is Asteroid Day!

While rocks and stars are not often thought of in the same moment, when they are visions of electric guitars and screaming crowds are evoked. Here, in the Scifi.Radio newsroom, rocks and stars tend to bring to mind things like comets and asteroids, flying out in space among those scattered suns.

However, once a year on June 30th, these instances merge with the recognition of Asteroid Day: a global awareness campaign about rocks among the stars, which counts among its co-founders one of the most prolific rock stars of all time: astrophysicist and lead guitarist of QUEEN, Dr. Brian May.

A day of awareness conceived by May, Apollo 9 astronaut rusty Schweickart, filmmaker Grig Richters, and B612 Foundation President Danica Remy, its selection on the calendar was no accident. Chosen to fall on the anniversary of the Siberia Tunguska event that took place over Russia in 1908, the largest asteroid impact in recorded history, Asteroid Day is meant to spotlight education about the importance of asteroids. Each year, recognition of Asteroid Day promotes the importance of asteroid defense and raises awareness not only of the threat that asteroid impacts can present, but the opportunities that are present in the study of these objects and the development of technologies to protect our planet against the more dangerous of these heavenly bodies.

The Asteroid Day campaign gained support from the United Nations, who made an official resolution in 2016 declaring June 30th as International Asteroid Day alongside leadership from the Association of Space Explorers, or ASE. Each year, in honor of this day, museums and other organizations across the globe host events like lectures, contests, concerts, and more, independently organized for the most part. Through these events, public education continues regarding the challenges of defending against and studying asteroids, as well as the resources they can provide in the greater space economy.

This year, the flagship Asteroid Day celebration takes place in Luxemborg, while activities and celebrations will be featured elsewhere through the remainder of June. These events will be studded not with stars from the night sky, but luminaries in the field of space study and various other STEAM fields, with a focus on the trailblazers of the future and greater exploration of the night skies.

Are you a fan of rocks, stars, and other stellar phenomena? Check out the Asteroid Day website to find a local Asteroid Day celebration near you, or to learn more about this far reaching and important internationally recognized day of education.