Each scar on Earth from a meteorite impact tells a story—from the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs to the lesser-known craters that dot the planet. Asteroid Day highlights ongoing research into asteroids and the potential threats they pose. Started in 2015 and backed by the United Nations, this day marks the anniversary of the Tunguska event—a massive explosion that occurred in Siberia on June 30, 1908. This explosion flattened over 2,070 square kilometres of Siberian forest near the Tunguska River. The blast released energy equal to 10–15 megatons of trinitrotoluene (TNT), a standard measure of explosive force. Since then, craters like Arizona"s Barringer, Quebec"s Manicouagan and others have helped scientists study what happens when space rocks hit Earth.
Asteroid Day
Today in History
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World Lake Day
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Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
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When just a pinch of salt won’t do
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Go hug a mountain, if you can
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Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia
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La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
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A peck between penguins
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World Art Day
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Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy
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Shell-ebrating sea turtles
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Chasing rainbows
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Stairway to heaven?
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International Rock Day
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Leucistic Annas Hummingbird, California, USA
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Let’s go to the Ex!
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Shades of Fall
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Happy Easter!
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Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
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A remote oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert
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Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
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Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia
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Red lechwe, Okavango Delta, Botswana
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Two hungry baby beavers
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Pride and Joy
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Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York, United States
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Rocky Mountain runoff
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Willamette National Forest, Oregon
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Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States
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Bungle beehives