World celebrates International Asteroid Day tomorrow amid global efforts to confront threats

Doha: The world will celebrate on Monday the International Asteroid Day, observed annually on June 30. This day aims to raise public awareness of t...

Doha: The world will celebrate on Monday the International Asteroid Day, observed annually on June 30.

This day aims to raise public awareness of the risks of asteroid impacts.

In December 2016 the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 71/90, declaring June 30 International Asteroid Day in order to "observe each year at the international level the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation.

On June 30, 1908, an asteroid plunged into Earth's atmosphere and exploded in the skies over Siberia. It destroyed 2000 square kilometres of forest.

While there were no casualties, had the object veered slightly toward a populated area, history might have changed.