Originally posted on asteroidday.org on 23 July 2025
Press release available in English | French | German
After a successful 10th anniversary, Asteroid Foundation has begun the preparations of next year’s 11th edition of Asteroid Day
Luxembourg, 22 July 2025. – The Asteroid Foundation proudly announces the success of the 10th edition of Asteroid Day, a United Nations-recognised global initiative dedicated to space science, planetary defence, and education. The programme organised in Luxembourg and
across the world reached new heights in 2025, setting the stage for the 11th edition in June 2026.
Celebrated every year on the 30th of June, Asteroid Day commemorates the explosion of an asteroid over Tunguska, Siberia, in 1908, which remains the largest asteroid event in recorded history. Led by the Luxembourg-based Asteroid Foundation, the programme captivates both
local and global audiences with the latest breakthroughs in space science, asteroid missions, innovative technologies and the future of sustainable space exploration.
Following the remarkable success of the 10th Asteroid Day at the end of June 2025, the Asteroid Foundation has begun the planning and preparations for next year’s edition. The conference programme and festivities are scheduled to take place in Luxembourg on 26th and 27th of June 2026.
Asteroid Day marked its 10th anniversary and featured a wide range of activities across several days in Luxembourg designed to inspire, educate and connect. Astronauts and scientists visited local schools in Luxembourg, bringing space exploration directly into classrooms and sparking curiosity among young students. The Astronomer for a Night sky observation offered a unique stargazing session through a virtual telescope guided by renowned astronomer Gianluca Masi.
Bo Byloos, Manager Exploration and Science at the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), described her experience: “Seeing the stars come to life through Gianluca Masi’s passionate guidance was unforgettable. Discovering asteroids on the spot, I truly felt like an ‘Astronomer for a
Night’.” Reflecting on the broader programme, she added: “The Asteroid Day Space Lecture was a powerful reminder that exploration isn’t just about technology — it’s about people working together to reach beyond the sky.”
At the heart of the celebrations was the Asteroid Day Festival, held at Cercle Cité in Luxembourg City, which attracted a record 1,500 visitors. The event brought together families, students, and curious minds of all ages for a day of hands-on exploration and learning. Attendees experimented with robot coding, explored how sound and touch can guide space navigation, and took part in lively discussions on human health in space, planetary defence, and the role of education in shaping the next generation of space explorers.
As a final accord to the anniversary programme, the “Beneath the Silence of Space: A Sonified Journey” lecture concert at the Philharmonie, created by composer Mike von der Nahmer and performed with the Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg (OCL), blended art, music and
science. The event offered audiences a multisensory experience that bridged the emotional and intellectual dimensions of space exploration.
Annually, Asteroid Day inspires communities across the globe to host similar local events. For 2025, the Asteroid Foundation reported over 400 independently organised events across six continents, with more still being catalogued as organisers continue to share their experiences. More than 200 took place in South America, with the rest spread across Europe, Asia and the United States. In the U.S., Asteroid Day gained additional visibility through its official recognition by the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, and the United States Senate.
The Asteroid Foundation is powered by the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) and supported by Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), André Losch Foundation, Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS), Groupement Luxembourgeois de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (GLAE), Ville de Luxembourg (VDL), Embassy of Switzerland in Luxembourg, NewSpace Capital, Perpetuity Capital, Gomspace, OHB and Novotel.
Markus Payer, Chair of the Board of the Asteroid Foundation, commented: “Celebrating a decade of Asteroid Day is a major milestone for our global community. What began as a call for greater asteroid awareness has evolved into a worldwide movement involving scientists, governments, educators, and the public. None of this would be possible without the generous and continued financial support from our partners and sponsors. Their commitment enables us to educate, engage, and inspire young people and the next generation of space talent as we prepare for critical milestones like the Apophis flyby in 2029 and further strengthen global awareness around planetary defence.”
With the 11th edition already scheduled to take place on 26 and 27 June 2026 in Luxembourg, the Asteroid Foundation is also looking ahead to 2029, a pivotal year for the planetary defence community. In April of that year, the asteroid Apophis (99942), measuring approximately 350
metres in diameter, is expected to pass Earth at a distance of only 31,000 kilometres. In recognition of this historic encounter, the United Nations has proclaimed 2029 the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence. The Asteroid Foundation has already begun intensifying its efforts to support this global initiative.
For pictures:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/182871239@N02/albums/72177720327716103/
For more information:
Asteroid Foundation
Anna Bordus
Programme Director
anna.bordus@asteroidfoundation.org