Near Miss Day

Near Miss Day is an annual American holiday dedicated to space bodies that often fly near the planet. It is celebrated on March 23. On this day, we should learn more about the nature of meteorites and asteroids because they can be a direct threat to all life on Earth!

History

The story of Near Miss Day is quite simple. It was created in honor of an event that took place on March 23, 1989. On that day, a huge asteroid (scientists estimated that it was comparable to the size of an average mountain) flew very close to the planet. However, there was no collision! This is really great news because the consequences of the impact would have been enormous.

Asteroids are actually rocks that date back to the time of the formation of the solar system. Since then, many of them have remained in outer space and are in constant motion. They challenge the belief that humanity can control everything. Falling asteroids can be observed with special equipment, which is installed both on Earth in special observatories and on space stations. However, preventing huge asteroids or meteorites from falling is almost impossible!

Interesting Facts

• The falling asteroid in 1989 was named Asclepius.
• The diameter of the asteroid was about 0.43 km, similar in size to a soccer field.
• A collision of Asclepius or any other asteroid of similar size could cause an explosion (releasing enormous energy on impact) comparable in power to a 600 megaton nuclear bomb.

How to Celebrate

Learn more about asteroids that have, at various times, passed very close to Earth’s surface. What could have been the consequences? You can visit space museums to see samples of asteroids, meteorites, etc., and listen to interesting lectures from a guide.

Spread the word on social media. Let more people know about Near Miss Day!

When is Near Miss Day in 2025?

Near Miss Day is observed on March 23 each year.

Observations