10 Years of Asteroid Day in Europe: Science and Celebration at High-level Events.

In Europe, the 10th anniversary of Asteroid Day was marked with a lively and intense programme. Scientific organisations, observatories and astronomy groups hosted lectures, workshops and other activities that engaged audiences of all ages. Here are some of the highlights from across the continent:

Luxembourg was the international hub for the celebrations, with a special programme running from 26 to 28 June that brought together scientists, students and the general public. It included skywatching sessions, talks by experts from ESA and space companies, as well as an interactive festival with workshops and activities for all ages. The event concluded with an artistic performance that combined music, animation and science in an immersive experience. See  for further details and prospects for future editions.

In Portugal, an intensive programme took place in Figueira da Foz, at the Núcleo Museológico do Mar (Sea Museum Centre), in partnership with the Earth and Space Research Centre of the University of Coimbra. A workshop helped participants understand how asteroid impacts occur and how impact craters are formed. Among the presentations, one addressed the characteristics of meteorites and another explained how international collaboration works in planetary defence.

In Romania, the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy and the Space Club of Bucharest organised a well-attended workshop for children, who learnt about the Solar System and where most asteroids are found.

In Cotnari, AstroClubul Iași and Astroclubul PEGAS once again joined forces for an excellent programme. One of the workshops encouraged children’s creativity, as they made beautiful model asteroids decorated with seashells.

Greece and Cyprus were among the highlights of the celebrations around the Mediterranean. The Greek Meteorite Museum in Athens opened up its collection of more than 600 meteorites and organised a series of lectures featuring a special guest appearance by an analogue astronaut.
As well as taking part online in the Greek event, the Kition Planetarium and Observatory in the Cypriot town of Kiti also organised a special activity that included talks, film sessions and skywatching.

In Riga, Latvia, the Meteorītu Muzejs celebrated Asteroid Day with great success, showcasing its collections and organising a series of lectures. The museum also welcomed colleagues from the Latvian National Museum of Natural History, with whom a promising collaboration has begun, focused on scientific outreach and meteorite research.

In Ukraine, the Institute of Astronomy at Kharkiv V.N. Karazin National University also held a series of lectures explaining the risks of asteroid impacts, soil sample analysis, double asteroids and amateur asteroid observations.

In the United Kingdom, Cranfield University in England brought together experts for a special broadcast, offering a behind-the-scenes look at planetary defence efforts. At a nursing home in Glenrothes, Scotland, asteroids were the focus of a special activity for residents, combining science and art. Activities like these stimulate memory, spark curiosity, support emotional well-being and contribute to the mental health of people who require care.

In France, the International Centre for Research and Restitution on Impacts and Rochechouart organised a major festival for the third consecutive year, with activities taking place in three municipalities: Rochechouart, Chassenon and Pressignac.

These towns were built with impactites, materials produced by an asteroid impact in the region millions of years ago. This adds a special character to the event and makes it a major point of reference across the continent. Planetarium sessions, skywatching, exhibitions and an astronaut costume contest were among the festival’s many attractions.

In Dijon and Cannes, local astronomical societies organised impressive exhibitions and lectures on asteroids. In Ensisheim, the region was buzzing with another edition of Ensisheim Météorite, an exhibition dedicated exclusively to meteorites and ideal for interaction between collectors and enthusiasts.

In Saint-Saëns, a shop specialising in interior design launched a table model for Asteroid Day, with a resin asteroid as its base. This article provides other examples of how asteroids have inspired remarkable ideas and designs.

In Spain, the 10th anniversary Asteroid Day was celebrated in at least 10 provinces across the country, with various events focused on asteroid physics and planetary defence. In Barcelona and Alicante, the Institute of Space Sciences and La Sede Universitaria Ciudad de Alicante respectively hosted conferences that brought together experts.

From north to south of the country, various astronomical associations, observatories, institutions, and companies organised events in style, bringing their audiences closer to the science of asteroids and further fuelling the fascination with these space rocks.

Italy stood out as the European country with the highest number of events held during Asteroid Day, demonstrating a strong commitment to science outreach and raising awareness about asteroid. Across several regions, Italian cities hosted activities at planetariums, universities, schools, and observatories, bringing together experts and the general public in a major mobilisation for space education and planetary defence.

The Osservatorio Astronomico della Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta and the Virtual Telescope Project were among the main online broadcasts, featuring lectures and live asteroid observations. Among the digital content, astrophysicist and science communicator Luca Nardi produced an interesting ranking with the 100 largest known asteroids.

Honouring Italy’s rich musical tradition, one of the Asteroid Day events featured a moving piano concert, uniting art and science in a memorable experience. The performance showed how Asteroid Day can go beyond scientific outreach, becoming a moment of inspiration and wonder —especially in a country whose culture encourages deep connections between knowledge and artistic sensibility.

Let us know if you were part of these historic moments, when Asteroid Day was celebrated in every corner of the world. Fill in this report and send images of your event so we can feature them on our social media channels.