Asteroid Day

On the 108th anniversary of the Tunguska asteroid impact in Siberia, join scientists, educators, and space enthusiasts to learn all about asteroids and their role in our solar system on the second-annual Asteroid Day, a global day of awareness.

In partnership with the B612 Foundation, the Academy will host a special day-long schedule of events for families, youth, and adults alike featuring interactive presentations, educational activities, and special guests. Catch the award-winning Incoming! in Morrison Planetarium, discover more about asteroids in the live featurette Asteroids: Science...With an Impact in Hohfeld Hall, view and touch real meteorites from the Academy’s geology collection, meet former astronaut Ed Lu and asteroid experts (3-5pm only), make a comet with Academy Docents, and more!

Special presentations include:

• "Asteroid Adventure" in the Piazza @ 11:00am - Asteroids and their icy comet cousins have had quite the impact on Earth (just ask the dinosaurs). But how do these past impacts influence our lives today and how likely are they in the future? Step right up for a carnival-style look at the impactful objects of our solar system!
• Scott Manley, Astronogamer - "Asteroids in Fiction vs Reality" (Naturalist Center @ 12:30pm)
• Geoff Notkin, from the Science Channel's "Meteorite Men" - "Meteorites Are Rocks From Space" (Naturalist Center @ 1:30pm)
• Dr. Lynne Jones, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) - "Hunting Asteroids with Big Telescopes" (Naturalist Center @ 2:15pm)
• Scott Manley, Astronogamer, Kerbal enthusiast, and YouTube personality - Live Kerbal Demo "Defending Earth from Asteroids" (Forum Gallery @ 3:30pm)

For details on Asteroid Day, visit asteroidday.org