Claim: Asteroid Day was founded in part by an astronaut.

Asteroid Day -LRB- also known as International Asteroid Day -RRB- is an annual global event that aims to raise awareness about asteroids and what can be done to protect the Earth , its families , communities , and future generations . Asteroid Day is held on the anniversary of the June 30 , 1908 Siberian Tunguska event , the most harmful known asteroid-related event on Earth in recent history . The United Nations has proclaimed that Asteroid Day will be observed globally on June 30 every year in its resolution .   It was co-founded by filmmaker Grigorij Richters , B612 Foundation COO Danica Remy , Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart and Brian May , Queen guitarist and astrophysicist . Over 200 astronauts , scientists , technologists and artists , including Richard Dawkins , Bill Nye , Peter Gabriel , Jim Lovell , Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins , Alexei Leonov , Bill Anders , Kip Thorne , Lord Martin Rees , Chris Hadfield , Rusty Schweickart and Brian Cox co-signed the Asteroid Day Declaration . Asteroid Day was officially launched on December 3 , 2014 .