Published July 01, 2025
By : Staff Writer
Each year, June 30 is observed as Asteroid Day to commemorate the anniversary of Earth's most significant recorded asteroid impact, which occurred on June 30, 1998.
This day is also an opportunity to raise public awareness about near-Earth objects and comets that come within 1.3 astronomical units (roughly 195 million kilometers) of the Sun.
According to NASA's Center for NEO Studies, there are over 36,000 recorded Near-Earth Asteroids.
The NEO Surveyor, which is scheduled to launch in late 2027, will be the first space telescope specifically designed to search for asteroids and comets that may pose a potential hazard to Earth.
On International Asteroid Day 2025, NASA engaged audiences on social media with pop quizzes and more about asteroids.
According to NASA, asteroids are fascinating objects that orbit the Sun. No two are exactly alike, and their ancient nature provides insights into the origins of our solar system.
NASA's Solar System division encourages the public to engage in tracking hidden space rocks and spotting comet-like activity to assist scientists in making fundamental discoveries from the comfort of their own homes.
By harnessing the power of citizen scientists, AI has been used to analyze over 37,000 Hubble images to hunt for faint asteroid trails, enhancing our understanding of the asteroid belt in our solar system.
Michelle Chen is an engineer who trained a spacecraft to crash itself into an asteroid.
She is a recipient of the WOC Outstanding Technical Contribution Award, recognized for making a significant impact as a software systems engineer at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
By successfully striking the moon of the asteroid Didymos, DART showcased our readiness and capability, making Chen's contributions to planetary defense vital for safeguarding the future.
Chen developed a prototype that served as the foundation for the instrument utilized in the DART mission.
Her innovative creation, the Small-body Maneuvering Autonomous Real-Time Navigation (SMART Nav) algorithm, played a crucial role in the mission's success.
Operating onboard the spacecraft, SMART Nav took charge during the critical terminal phase, using onboard imagery to identify the target and make essential decisions regarding thruster firing and coasting while considering fuel levels and remaining distance.
The efficiency and precision of SMART Nav were key factors in ensuring the success of the DART mission.
The DART mission tested a technique that could be employed to mitigate the threat of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth, should one be discovered in the future.
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs leads the UN's efforts in space exploration and has shared information on how to discover some of the one million-plus asteroids that roam our solar system.
While most asteroids will never threaten us, approximately 37,000 near-Earth objects occasionally cross Earth's orbit, prompting investigations into planetary defense and ways to prevent potential impacts, similar to the event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
This #AsteroidDay, learn how AI is used with Hubble data to discover asteroids.
— Hubble (@NASAHubble) June 30, 2025
With the help of citizen scientists, AI hunted for faint asteroid trails in over 37,000 Hubble images – helping us learn more our solar system's asteroid belt: https://t.co/F4AtcLpzhn pic.twitter.com/DoGkc68YF5
It’s International Asteroid Day, so let’s rock 🤘
— NASA (@NASA) June 30, 2025
Asteroids are pretty cool: they orbit the Sun, no two are exactly alike, and they’re so old, we can study them to learn about the origins of our solar system. Learn more about these space objects: https://t.co/dQAHOjUbe8 pic.twitter.com/jqlPItjxOI
