Quiz To Test Your Knowledge On International Asteroid Day

International Asteroid Day is observed on 30th June. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about asteroids and the potential threat they pose to our planet. It commemorates the anniversary of the Tunguska event, a massive asteroid impact that occurred in Siberia in 1908. The goal of International Asteroid Day is to educate the public about asteroids, promote asteroid research, and encourage efforts to detect and track potentially hazardous asteroids.

The body of an asteroid is made up of rocks, ice, and metals. Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun and are remnants from the early formation of the solar system. They can vary in composition, but most asteroids are composed of a combination of these materials. Rocks are the most common component, followed by metals such as iron and nickel. Some asteroids also contain ice, which can be in the form of water ice or other volatile substances. Therefore, the correct answer is "All of the above."

The greatest number of asteroids is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This region is known as the asteroid belt, which is a collection of small rocky objects that orbit the Sun. The gravitational influence of Jupiter prevented the formation of a planet in this region, leading to the accumulation of numerous asteroids.

The purpose of observing International Asteroid Day is to raise awareness about asteroids. This day serves as a platform to educate the public about the importance of studying and monitoring asteroids, as they pose potential threats to Earth. By increasing awareness, it aims to promote research, collaboration, and efforts to develop strategies for asteroid detection, tracking, and mitigation. Honoring astronauts and raising money for artificial asteroids are not mentioned as the specific purposes of this day.

The correct answer is "All of the above" because all three individuals mentioned - Stephen Hawking, Rusty Schweickart, and Grigorij Richters - are co-founders of this day.

Galileo spacecraft provided the first close observation of an asteroid.

Since the question states that an asteroid can be classified as either a planet or a comet, and the correct answer is "None of the above," it implies that an asteroid is not classified as either a planet or a comet. Therefore, the correct answer suggests that an asteroid is a distinct type of celestial object that does not fall into either of these categories.

In 2016, the United Nations adopted a resolution proclaiming the observation of International Asteroid Day. This resolution was passed to raise awareness about the importance of studying and understanding asteroids and to promote efforts to protect the Earth from potential asteroid impacts. International Asteroid Day is now observed annually on June 30th to educate the public about asteroids and the potential risks they pose to our planet.

In 2014, the workgroup of Asteroid Day created a declaration known as the 100X Declaration. This declaration is likely named as such to emphasize the urgency and importance of addressing the threat posed by asteroids. The "100X" could be a reference to the need to increase efforts and resources by a factor of 100 in order to effectively prevent and mitigate the potential impact of asteroids on Earth.

The Chelyabinsk meteor entered Earth's atmosphere over the southern Ural region.