Sharjah: The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) at the University of Sharjah celebrated International Asteroid Day, an event that takes place annually on June 30 to enhance public understanding of asteroid-related risks and opportunities through science and education.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event brought together researchers, students, and space science enthusiasts. It began with a welcome address by Engineer Maryam Sharif, Head of the Meteorite Lab Section at SAASST, who underscored the significance of International Asteroid Day in raising awareness about the potential dangers posed by near-Earth objects, past asteroid incidents, and the importance of tracking these threats. She also emphasized the UAE's contributions to asteroid research, meteorite recovery, and deep space exploration, followed by a lecture on the importance of asteroids.
Hoor Almaazmi, Senior Space Science Researcher at the UAE Space Agency, provided insights into the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), one of the UAE's deep space exploration initiatives. Her presentation focused on the mission's objectives, the targeted asteroids, and its scientific aims.
A panel discussion titled 'Tracking the Threats, Exploring the Opportunities,' moderated by Engineer Maryam Sharif, featured Ammar Eissa, Director of the Astronomical Observatories Department; Hoor Almaazmi; and Alreem Alzarouni, Research Analyst at SAASST. The panel addressed how asteroid science is communicated to the public, methods for tracking and recovering meteorites in the UAE, the future of national space missions, and strategies to inspire the next generation of space scientists.
The event concluded with a guided tour of SAASST's meteorite and impactite collection, followed by a special Planetarium show titled "Space Rocks: A Closer Look."