Join us to celebrate International Asteroid Day on Monday, 30 June 2025 from 16.00 to 19.00 at the Observatory of Helsinki University Museum Flame (Kopernikuksentie 1). Free entrance.
Meet asteroid researchers and hear about asteroid impact hazards and asteroid mining. While the event is targeted at young people and adults, it also offers experiences for the youngest in the family.
In addition, you can immerse yourself in the fascinating past of the Observatory in its exhibitions, as well as in astronomical phenomena from our own solar system to distant galaxies.
Argelander Hall:
17.00–17.20 Presentation by Grigori Fedorets, PhD: A brief history of the threat posed by asteroid 2024 YR4 (in Finnish)
At the beginning of the year, the asteroid 2024 YR4 elicited great interest, emerging briefly as the most dangerous asteroid of its size in history. The presentation will review and consider the brief and colourful history of the risk assessment for 2024 YR4, while also illustrating how these kinds of threats can be managed and prevented.
17.30–17.50 Presentation by Lauri Siltala, PhD: Current status of asteroid mining (in Finnish)
The near future of commercial asteroid mining looks promising, with several startups in the field currently planning to initiate mining on near-Earth asteroids. Among other topics, the presentation will discuss the current status of asteroid mining, potential practical methods, challenges in the field and the identification of asteroids suitable for mining.
There is time for questions at the end of the presentations.
18.00–18.30 Panel discussion on the presentation topics
Observatory exhibitions:
16.00–19.00 Researchers describe space missions directed at asteroids (e.g., Hera, Psyche, Lucy, OSIRIS-APEX)
16.00–19.00 Introduction to the Down2Earth asteroid impact calculator. Test the effects of various impacts on Earth.
16.00–18.30 Make your own impact craters from cocoa powder! Change the size, speed and impact angle of your clay asteroid – what difference do they make? Get ready for a pleasant-smelling thump.