The world celebrates June 30 as World Asteroid Day to commemorate the Tunguska event, a massive asteroid explosion that occurred over Russia’s Siberia on the same day in 1908. This event is considered the largest asteroid impact in Earth’s recent history, flattening around 2,000 square kilometres of forest and releasing energy equivalent to 185 Hiroshima bombs.
The event’s remoteness led to a lack of immediate attention, both within Russia and globally. The first scientific expedition didn’t reach the area until 1927, nearly 19 years after the event. Despite the delay, the expedition found extensive evidence of the asteroid’s impact, including shock wave damage and heat blast effects.
World Asteroid Day aims to educate the public about asteroid risks and impact hazards. It encourages investment in space science and technology. The awareness also helps in developing strategies for asteroid detection, tracking and deflection. This year, the world celebrates the 10th anniversary of Asteroid Day.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/71/90 in December 2016, declaring June 30 International Asteroid Day in order to recognise the global importance of asteroid impact awareness and the need for cooperation to prevent potential threats.
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