The world recognizes June 30 as International Asteroid Day or World Asteroid Day. The day is dedicated to commemorating the Tunguska event that took place in 1908 and took place in Siberia, Russia. In 1908 there was a colossal asteroid explosion that destroyed 2,150 square kilometers of Siberian forest.
The goal of International Asteroid Day is to educate people around the world about asteroids. The day also aims to inform people about the possible catastrophic results of asteroid impacts on the planet. International Asteroid Day is celebrated worldwide by all member countries of the United Nations.
This day calls on global governments to create strategies to manage a calamity similar to the Tunguska event in the future.
World Asteroid Day 2023: History
It was in 2014 when World Asteroid Day began. The intention then was to inform the population about possible asteroid threats to Earth.
In 2013, a massive event occurred, the Chelyabinsk meteorite. The event promoted the concept of International Asteroid Day. The following year, a team of notable dignitaries, including Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, physicist Stephen Hawking, B612 Foundation president Danica Remy, filmmaker Grigorij Richters, and astrophysicist Brian May, initiated the idea of the International Day of Asteroids.
The United Nations officially endorsed June 30 as Asteroid Day through a resolution in 2016.
World Asteroid Day 2023: key details
Date: June 30
Year of establishment: 2015
Adoption by the UN: 2016
Objective: raise awareness about asteroids. Create plans to safeguard Earth from possible asteroid impacts.
World Asteroid Day 2023: Importance
International Asteroid Day or World Asteroid Day plays the role of an annual reminder of how asteroids can have a potentially dangerous impact on our planet. The day highlights incidents such as the 2013 Chelyabinsk event and the 1908 Tunguska event and reminds the world of the devastating impacts of such events.
The goal of World Asteroid Day is to promote awareness of the likely damage that asteroids can cause to life and resources on Earth. The day calls on world governments to act to design plans for the protection of the planet from possible adverse impacts of asteroids on Earth.
World Asteroid Day 2023: Types of Asteroids and Related Facts
There are three main classes of asteroids. These are type C, type S and type M.
C-type asteroids
These are the most common type of asteroids. These form approximately 75 percent of all known asteroids in the solar system.
Facts about C-type asteroids
- There are many C-type asteroids in the solar system. Of all asteroids, type C is the most numerous.
- These are one of the oldest celestial bodies in our solar system.
- They have the same spectral classification as carbonaceous meteorites.
- These are among the darkest of all celestial bodies in color.
- Type C asteroids have a carbon-like appearance. This is due to the high concentration of carbon.
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S-type asteroids
This type of asteroid is the second most common asteroid in our solar system. S-type asteroids are stony mineralogical bodies.
Facts about S-type asteroids
- S-type asteroids are some of the most giant asteroids ever found.
- 7 Iris is the brightest S-type asteroid. It is one of the brightest asteroids ever found so far.
- Many of the S-type asteroids have the same spectral characteristics and compositions as those of certain meteorites.
- S-type asteroids make up about 17 percent of all known asteroids in our solar system.
M-type asteroids
The third most common type of asteroid in the solar system is the M-type asteroid. However, not much information is known about these asteroids.
Facts about M-type asteroids
- Many of the M-type asteroids are created from nickel-iron.
- These asteroids typically have an albedo between 0.1 and 0.2. These are moderately bright asteroids
- These are among the least studied group of asteroids.
- It is in the center of the asteroid belt where M-type asteroids are found.
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Source: ptivs2.edu.vn