World Celebrates International Asteroid Day Tomorrow Amid Global Efforts to Confront Threats
Doha, June 29 (QNA) – The world will celebrate on Monday the International Asteroid Day, observed annually on June 30.
This day aims to raise public awareness of the risks of asteroid impacts.
In December 2016 the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 71/90, declaring June 30 International Asteroid Day in order to “observe each year at the international level the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation.
On June 30, 1908, an asteroid plunged into Earth”s atmosphere and exploded in the skies over Siberia. It destroyed 2000 square kilometres of forest.
While there were no casualties, had the object veered slightly toward a populated area, history might have changed. For this reason, the day was designated to raise awareness about asteroids and the importance of tracking and studying their behavior.
On Feb. 15, 2013, a large fireball (technically, called a “superbolide”), traveling at a velocity of 18.6 kilometers per second, entered the atmosphere and disintegrated in the skies over Chelyabinsk.
According to NASA, the approximate effective diameter of the asteroid was estimated at 18 meters and its mass at 11,000 tons.
The approximate total impact energy of the Chelyabinsk Fireball, in kilotons of TNT explosives (the energy parameter usually quoted for a fireball), was 440 kilotons. The Chelyabinsk event was an extraordinarily large fireball, the most energetic impact event recognized since the 1908 Tunguska blast in Siberia. The number of discovered near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) now tops 16,000.
In an exclusive statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), the astronomy expert at the Qatar Calendar House Dr. Bashir Marzouq emphasized the importance of recognizing and commemorating this international event, and that many astronomy-related scientific institutions engage in public education about asteroids and their potential impacts, including awareness efforts by the Qatar Calendar House through its digital platforms.
He explained that asteroids are remnants of rocky material that never formed into planets during the formation of the solar system. They exist within the solar system, with most located in a region known as the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. This belt also reflects the light that produces the phenomenon known as the zodiacal light or false dawn, he added.
The astronomy expert pointed out that asteroid sizes range from a few dozen meters to hundreds of kilometers and orbit space in generally stable trajectories. However, he said, some occasionally approach Earth”s orbit and are known as Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs).
Though they may appear as silent objects, the mere close approach of one could pose an existential threat, therefore, monitoring and predicting their paths has become a scientific and humanitarian priority, he said.
International efforts to monitor and study asteroids continue. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has worked for many years on Near-Earth Object (NEOs) issues, recognizing the risk of NEOs impacts as a global challenge requiring an international response.
In recent years, the world has seen scientific advancements in this field. NASA has launched several missions to study asteroids up close. It recently released a documentary titled “Planetary Defenders,” highlighting its efforts to protect Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids.
The 75-minute production features astronomers and scientists working tirelessly to track and monitor near-Earth asteroids.
NASA said that this documentary captures the intricate and collaborative efforts of these unsung heroes, blending cutting-edge science with personal stories to reveal the human spirit behind this critical global endeavor.
One of the most notable efforts was the DART mission, which, in September 2022, successfully altered the path of an asteroid by deliberately colliding with it a first-of-its-kind experiment in planetary defense.
In parallel, other space agencies, such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), are actively involved. JAXA”s “Hayabusa” mission collected a surface sample of material from a asteroid to help understand the early solar system”s composition.
On the public level, educational and awareness initiatives have been launched around the world. These include workshops, lectures, and public astronomy events to promote public understanding.
Accredited observatories confirm that currently, no major asteroid is expected to pose an imminent threat to Earth. However, the risk albeit small is not zero. Thus, International Asteroid Day is not merely an astronomical observance but a symbolic reminder that science is the first line of defense, and that protection from cosmic dangers begins in research centers but ultimately depends on awareness at the individual level on this planet. (QNA)
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