What is Asteroid Day?
Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and musician Dr. Brian May of the rock band Queen, Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, filmmaker Grig Richters, and B612 Foundation President Danica Remy, with the hope to educate the public about the importance of asteroids, their role in the formation of our solar system, and the importance of defending
Earth from potential impacts.
In 2016, Asteroid Day was sanctioned by the United Nations as an international day of public awareness and education, to be celebrated annually on June 30th, the date of the largest asteroid impact on Earth in recorded history. The aim of Asteroid Day is to educate the public about the risks and opportunities of asteroids by hosting events, providing educational resources, and communicating to both global and local audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the Big Impact Asteroid Day event? See if it's been answered here!
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Will there be anything fun for kids?Definitely! At Meteor Crater, there will be a special tour and face painting, and art performances. At Lowell Observatory, there will be a fun science demo where participants will create their own meteor (and see what happens when they crash it into a "planet") -- there will also be Lowell's regular family friendly exhibits and telescope viewing.
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Will the event be at Meteor Crater or at Lowell Observatory?Both! Lowell Observatory and Meteor Crater are partnering to bring you 12 hours of educational fun. Special tours and talks will be available at both places -- grab lunch from a variety of food trucks at Meteor Crater and enjoy educational talks about meteors and asteroid, and a special Meteor Crater tour! Then at Lowell, participate in family-friendly science activities, science speakers, and of course telescopes for your viewing enjoyment.
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Are the talks extra?Not at all! Enjoy all of the special talks at no extra cost. That's a part of the fun!
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What if I need to refund my ticket or cancel?No problem; just be sure you handle ticket issues with the vendor from which you purchased your original ticket. Tickets will be for sale at both Meteor Crater and at Lowell Observatory for this all-day event, and one ticket gets you into BOTH locations. If you bought your event ticket through Meteor Crater, go to MeteorCrater.com and contact them with your ticket issues. If you bought your event ticket through Lowell Observatory, go to Lowell.edu and contact them with your ticket issues.
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Will one ticket get me into both locations?That's right! One ticket purchase for the Big Impact Event on June 30, whether or not you purchased your ticket from Lowell Observatory or from Meteor Crater, will get you into both locations on that day.