Asteroid Day: Key milestones in the history of asteroid science and planetary defence
Summary
The article celebrates Asteroid Day (June 30), a UN-recognized global event for public education on asteroids and planetary defence. It explains why this date was chosen — referencing the 1908 Tunguska event — and explores key milestones in asteroid history, from early discoveries to modern planetary defence missions. The piece covers the scientific significance of asteroids as leftover building blocks from the Solar System's formation, and highlights humanity's growing ability to detect, track, and potentially deflect hazardous near-Earth objects.
Source
Twitter / XAsteroid Day: Key milestones in the history of asteroid science and planetary defenceesa.intKey quotes
· 3 pulledOnce considered by 19th century astronomers as 'vermin of the sky' for their tendency to creep across long exposures, asteroids are leftover objects from the creation of the Solar System.
Happy Asteroid Day! Today is the annual UN-recognised global event to promote public education on asteroids and planetary defence.
The vast majority of them are located within the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
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