June 30th- World asteroid day

June 30th- World asteroid day

Austria Post issued a stamp with an other-worldly rock; this stamp contained 0.03 grams of meteorite dust. The dust came from a 19 kilogram stony meteorite found in Morocco in 2004. The meteorite is composed of olivine, a mineral chemically defined as magnesium iron silicate. The gemstone known as peridot is an example of gem-quality olivine.
The meteorite was crushed into a very fine dust, which was then hand-affixed to the stamp using a special adhesive. The stamp issue, called Mail From a Different World. Issued in miniature sheet inside a small folder as issued.
Part of the meteor’s tail extends onto the border area of this sheet. According to Austria Post, the unused portion of the meteorite is on display at the Vienna Natural History Museum, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of meteorites.
Asteroid: a large rocky body in space, in orbit around the Sun. Meteoroid: much smaller rocks or particles in orbit around the Sun. ... Meteorite: If a small asteroid or large meteoroid survives its fiery passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface, it is then called a meteorite.
World Asteroid Day is observed globally on June 30 every year to raise public awareness about asteroid’s hazardous effect and the measures that should be taken in case of a near-earth object threat. The United Nation General Assembly designated the day as the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, which happened in 1908. Tunguska is the largest asteroid till date that affected the earth.
The day was co-founded by scientist Stephen Hawking, filmmaker Grigorij Richters, B612 Foundation President, Danica Remy, Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, and Brian May, guitarist of the rock band Queen and astrophysicist. Here’s all you need to know about the asteroid and World Asteroid Day.
Image and details courtesy: Austria post
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