2015–2025: Ten years of Asteroid Day

Asteroid Day was initiated on December 3, 2014, co-founded by astrophysicist Dr. Brian May (who is also the guitarist for Queen), filmmaker Grigorij Richters, Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, and B612 Foundation’s President Danica Remy. The first Asteroid Day took place on June 30, 2015, marking the anniversary of the 1908 asteroid impact in Tunguska, Siberia. During the first Asteroid Day, the 100X Declaration was signed by scientists and citizens globally, aiming to enhance asteroid detection efforts by 100 times.

Photo credit: Max Alexander

In its second year, Asteroid Day began to attract support from organisations such as ESA, NASA, and the UN,expanding to over 500 across more than 70 countries. In December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution A/RES/71/90, designating June 30 as International Asteroid Day. The Asteroid Foundation was officially established in Luxembourg through a grand-ducal decree on June 22, 2017. The foundation launched Asteroid Day LIVE, a 24-hour live broadcast featuring experts, scientists, astronomers, and astronauts. The International Astronomical Union designated the asteroid 248750 “Asteroidday”.

In subsequent years, Asteroid Foundation expanded its educational initiatives and outreach to schools. On May 21, 2019, the Foundation partnered with the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Asteroid Day inspired over 1,000 events worldwide, with a growing emphasis on education, students and young scientists.

In 2020, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asteroid Day transitioned to a fully virtual event and launched Space Connects Us, a communication and education platform that reached over a billion views in a few days in March 2020. Asteroid Day returned for an in-person format in Luxembourg in June 2022, with more than 40 experts, astronauts, and scientists participating live at the RTL studios in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, engaging in several hours of on-site panel discussions and studio broadcasts.

Photo credit: Jonathan Boucher, Asteroid Foundation, Lycée Aline Mayrisch

In 2023, Asteroid Day expanded its programme once again, extending it to two days. The first day featured the Asteroid Day Space Lecture aimed at a specialised audience, while the second day hosted the Asteroid Day Festival for the general public. Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) announced the winners of its “Astronaut for a Day” youth contest.

In 2024, Luxembourg introduced the Space Night celebration to the programme, which included public screenings, planetarium shows, museum late openings, and guided tours at space companies.

In May 2025, the Asteroid Foundation established an Advisory Board, consisting of four founding members from three different continents. The foundation pledged to play a crucial role in organising the UN-endorsed International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence in 2029, coinciding with the anticipated Earth fly-by of the asteroid Apophis. In June 2025, the Asteroid Foundation will commemorate the 10th anniversary of Asteroid Day.

Photo credit: Jonathan Boucher