Asteroid Day 2026 - Open Doors Day at the Astronomical Institute

For several years, around June the 30th— which marks the international celebration of "Asteroid Day"— The Astronomical Institute has been opening its doors to the Universe for the general, curious and science loving public.

The "Asteroid Day" event was established by the United Nations in 2016 to highlight the importance of studying small bodies in the Solar System and, above all, the potential danger of a disastrous asteroid impact with Earth. June the 30th was chosen because on this day in 1908, the Tunguska Event occurred. During this event, an asteroid or a comet fragment caught by Earth's gravity exploded at a low altitude above Siberia, causing a series of unusual phenomena and flattening 2,000 square kilometers of forest.

Accordingly, we celebrated Asteroid Day this year on June 26th, 2026. We welcomed children and students accompanied by parents and grandparents, as well as curious adults. We shared stories about asteroids, the night sky, stars, galaxies, and the Universe, while answering our visitors' enthusiastic and quirky questions.

The Institute provides the public with a guided tour created and hosted by our research staff, with the support of our administrative colleagues. This year, we were also joined by three passionate volunteer students currently undergoing training and internships at the institute. Additionally, our partners from Spaceclub (the Astronomy Club of the Military Space and Telecommunications Agency) and the Romanian Astronomical Society for Meteors (SARM) took part in the event.

The tour consists of several stages. In the first part, visitors explored the Meridian Hall, which showcases instruments used in the past for precise observations, measurements, and calculations. Every instrument has a fascinating story, including the meridian transit telescope, the satellite observation camera, and the Felix mechanical calculator. The second stage took visitors to the Equatorial Dome, home to the largest and oldest refractor telescope in Romania. Featuring a 38 cm diameter and a 6-meter focal length lens, the telescope is equipped with a classic photographic plate camera used to track and photograph the night sky. Installed here over a century ago in 1912, this telescope was operational until the mid 1990s.

In the third part of the tour, visitors were invited to presentations on various topics in the Planetarium Hall, as well as to attend a series of children's workshops. These workshops featured activities and practical observation tips provided by our partners at Spaceclub and SARM.

Finally, the tour concluded with a walk through the courtyard. Here, visitors looked at the Sun through a solar telescope, participated at experiments on magnetic fields, and admired the historic architecture of the Bosianu House.

Over 150 enthusiasts of all ages visited us this year. We were delighted to host them, share insights into Universe exploration, and offer guidance on pursuing a career in the fascinating field of astronomy. The event was also covered in detail on SARM's TV show "Noi și Cerul" (The Sky and Us), which can be watched on Columna TV local television or online via SARM's social media. If you could not make it this year, we look forward to welcoming you next year. We wish you great success and clear skies!

Dr Ruxandra Toma, Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, www.astro.ro

Published on: Jul 01, 2026