National Near Miss Day
It's amazing how our planet dodges a bullet (or meteor!) sometimes. The close calls of asteroids and meteors show us the incredible power of nature.
Leverage asteroid science and space-themed content to engage STEM audiences and drive awareness of planetary defense initiatives.
- 'How close did we come?' – Share the 1989 Asclepius near-miss story with infographics on asteroid distances
- Space playlist campaign: curate asteroid/space-themed music for Spotify/YouTube to drive engagement
- Educational webinar: partner with NASA or planetariums to explain planetary defense systems and asteroid tracking
Those who were living on planet Earth in the 1980s may remember an important day that could have been an extreme disaster!
On March 23, 1989, an asteroid that was around 300 meters wide was headed on a course in the direction of planet Earth. The asteroid, named 4581 Asclepius, was about 6 hours away from striking the planet, coming within 450,000 miles or so.
While that may still seem rather far away, in terms of asteroids traveling near planets, it is very close indeed.
An interesting fact about this asteroid is that it wasn’t even discovered that the asteroid came this close until nine days later, on March 31, when American scientists Henry E. Holt and Norman G. Thomas learned about it.
But perhaps it is better that no one knew in advance, or there may have been panic incited similar to what occurred a decade later when Y2K happened!
Because of its late discovery, National Near Miss Day wasn’t even observed until after the fact, when the future of the human race was already in the clear.
As it turns out, NASA reports that other asteroids and meteoroids have also come somewhat near to the planet, but none of them with a true capacity to create havoc or devastation.
Make a National Near Miss Day Playlist
One fun way to celebrate any day is with music! National Near Miss Day offers the opportunity to choose some songs about near misses and space, and make them into a themed soundtrack for the day. Consider adding some of these songs to the list: Asteroid Blues by John the Shaman (2019)Space Oddity by David Bowie (1969)Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft by The Carpenters (1976)AstronomyDomine by Pink Floyd (1967) National Near Miss Day Timeline1801Discovery of CeresItalian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi discovered Ceres, the first known asteroid, inaugurating the study of minor planets in the solar system. 1908The Tunguska ExplosionA powerful atmospheric explosion over Tunguska, Siberia, likely caused by a small asteroid or comet, flattened some 80 million trees and highlighted the destructive potential of cosmic impacts. 1980Chicxulub Crater Linked to Dinosaur ExtinctionPhysicist Luis Alvarez and colleagues proposed that a large asteroid impact, later tied to the Chicxulub crater in Mexico, caused the mass extinction 66 million years ago and spurred modern impact-hazard research. 1989Asteroid 4581 Asclepius Near MissOn March 23, 1989, asteroid 4581 Asclepius passed within roughly 700,000–800,000 kilometers of Earth and was only recognized as a close call when identified on March 31 by astronomers Henry E. Holt and Norman G. Thomas. [1]1998NASA’s Spaceguard Survey BeginsResponding to a U.S. congressional mandate, NASA formally starts the Spaceguard Survey to find 90 percent of near‑Earth objects larger than 1 kilometer, marking a coordinated international effort to catalog potential impactors. 2002LINEAR Leeads in Near‑Earth Object DiscoveriesBy the early 2000s, the Lincoln Near‑Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program in New Mexico had become the dominant source of new NEO detections, greatly expanding the known population of potentially hazardous asteroids. [1]2016UN Endorsed International Asteroid Warning NetworkThe United Nations recognized and supported the International Asteroid Warning Network and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group, formalizing global cooperation on asteroid detection and impact‑mitigation planning. [1]
Discovery of Ceres
Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi discovered Ceres, the first known asteroid, inaugurating the study of minor planets in the solar system.
The Tunguska Explosion
A powerful atmospheric explosion over Tunguska, Siberia, likely caused by a small asteroid or comet, flattened some 80 million trees and highlighted the destructive potential of cosmic impacts.
Chicxulub Crater Linked to Dinosaur Extinction
Physicist Luis Alvarez and colleagues proposed that a large asteroid impact, later tied to the Chicxulub crater in Mexico, caused the mass extinction 66 million years ago and spurred modern impact-hazard research.
Asteroid 4581 Asclepius Near Miss
On March 23, 1989, asteroid 4581 Asclepius passed within roughly 700,000–800,000 kilometers of Earth and was only recognized as a close call when identified on March 31 by astronomers Henry E. Holt and Norman G. Thomas. [1]
NASA’s Spaceguard Survey Begins
Responding to a U.S. congressional mandate, NASA formally starts the Spaceguard Survey to find 90 percent of near‑Earth objects larger than 1 kilometer, marking a coordinated international effort to catalog potential impactors.
LINEAR Leeads in Near‑Earth Object Discoveries
By the early 2000s, the Lincoln Near‑Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program in New Mexico had become the dominant source of new NEO detections, greatly expanding the known population of potentially hazardous asteroids. [1]
UN Endorsed International Asteroid Warning Network
The United Nations recognized and supported the International Asteroid Warning Network and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group, formalizing global cooperation on asteroid detection and impact‑mitigation planning. [1]