Consider the following statements regarding World Asteroid Day: The Un...
World Asteroid Day is observed on June 30 every year.
About World Asteroid Day:
- It is observed on June 30 every year.
- The day aims to raise awareness about asteroid impact hazards and crisis communication actions in case of a credible asteroid threat to planet Earth.
- The day also aims to educate people about the latest and upcoming asteroid research and technology through numerous events and activities held by organisations across the globe.
- History:
- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution in December 2016, designating June 30 as International Asteroid Day.
- The UNGA adopted the resolution based on the proposal made by the Association of Space Explorers, endorsed by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
- The date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the Tunguska asteroid’s impact over Siberia on June 30, 1908.
Tunguska Event:
- It is considered the biggest asteroid impact in recorded history when an asteroid exploded a few kilometers above the Tunguska region of central Siberia.
- It flattened more than 80 million trees in seconds, over an area spanning nearly 800 square miles (2,000 square kilometers) — but left no crater.
Hence both statements are correct.
Consider the following statements regarding World Asteroid Day: The Un...
The correct answer is option 'C' - Both 1 and 2.
Explanation:
1. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution in 2016, designating June 30 as International Asteroid Day.
- This statement is correct. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution A/RES/71/90, officially recognizing June 30th as International Asteroid Day. The resolution was proposed by the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) and supported by numerous other organizations, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
2. The date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the Tunguska Event.
- This statement is also correct. The Tunguska Event refers to a powerful explosion that occurred on June 30, 1908, in the remote Siberian region of Tunguska, Russia. It is believed to have been caused by the impact of a large asteroid or comet fragment in the Earth's atmosphere. The explosion flattened trees over an area of about 2,000 square kilometers, but fortunately, there were no human casualties reported. As a result, June 30th was chosen as International Asteroid Day to raise awareness about the potential threat of asteroid impacts and the need for increased efforts in asteroid detection, tracking, and mitigation.
Therefore, both statements are correct. The United Nations General Assembly designated June 30th as International Asteroid Day to raise awareness about asteroids and their potential impact on Earth, and the date was chosen to commemorate the Tunguska Event, a historic asteroid-related incident.
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