Don’t tune out this weekend. Asteroid Day- the International day of awareness, with events and speakers and such, is this Sunday, June 30 (plus Friday, Saturday, etc.):
asteroidday.org/event/asteroid-day-2024/
Commemorating the Tunguska impact of 1908, Asteroid Day is now a UN-recognized observance and media event every June 30. Here’s the official press release, from the non-profit Asteroid Foundation:
asteroidday.org/news-updates/asteroid-day-2024-press-release/
asteroidday.org/event/asteroid-day-2024-invitation/
Starting us off, the 2024 Asteroid Lecture has already happened. The festivities are headquartered in Luxembourg, and a Friday night lecture happened in European time. I’m guessing the recording will be re-watching:
asteroidday.org/asteroid-day-live/
Additional events will be telecast, such as presentations and interviews. Hayabusa2 team members certainly got airtime in recent Asteroid Days, and I’m guessing OSIRIS-REx project staff will be somewhere in this year’s schedule. Hera, ESA’s upcoming mission to Didymos/Dimorphos, will be represented:
www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Asteroid_day/About_Asteroid_Day
Note that “Day” is not literal but arithmetical: since time zones progress around the globe, different events and speakers in different locations will extend “Asteroid Day” past 24 actual hours. Is there an Asteroid Day event near your location?
asteroidday.org/event/2024-asteroid-day-special-event/
An Italian event has happened, catch the Arizona event if you’re in the area:
www.virtualtelescope.eu/asteroid-day-2024-a-worldwide-event-30-june-2024/
lowell.edu/event/asteroid-day-2024/
Happy Asteroid Day!