Asteroid Day
Asteroid Day is a UN-sanctioned global awareness campaign operated by the Luxembourg-based Asteroid Foundation, delivering a 24-hour live broadcast, an annual public festival, and free multilingual educational resources to event organisers, students, and the general public across 70+ countries, funded by sponsorships, donations, and merchandise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLuxembourg, Luxembourg
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Asteroid Day does
Asteroid Day is a UN-sanctioned global awareness campaign dedicated to asteroid science and planetary defence, operated as a programme of the Asteroid Foundation, a non-profit established in Luxembourg via grand-ducal decree on 22 June 2017. Co-founded in December 2014 by astrophysicist Dr. Brian May, filmmaker Grigorij Richters, Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, and B612 Foundation President Danica Remy, the campaign organises an annual flagship day on 30 June – the date of the 1908 Tunguska impact and the UN-designated International Asteroid Day since UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/71/90 in December 2016. The campaign's portfolio includes a 24-hour global live broadcast (Asteroid Day LIVE) streamed from Luxembourg on YouTube, a public Festival in Luxembourg co-organised with the Luxembourg Space Agency, a specialised Space Lecture series for students and young professionals, free multilingual educational exhibitions (3D-printable asteroid models, chronological poster series, tactile inclusive materials), and the 100X Declaration advocacy initiative signed by 206 notable individuals.
The underlying platform is non-commercial in nature: it consists of the YouTube broadcast infrastructure, a multilingual website serving as a resource and event-registration hub, downloadable exhibition files hosted on Google Drive, and a digital event reporting system. The campaign reaches an estimated 500+ independently organised events across 70+ countries annually and has achieved more than 1 billion cumulative views via its Space Connects Us virtual platform launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue is generated through corporate sponsorships (Luxembourg Space Agency as main power sponsor, alongside André Losch Fondation, FEDIL GLAE, and other space-industry partners), public donations, and merchandise sales. The audience spans the general public, students, educators, people with disabilities (served through inclusive formats), corporate sponsors, and government/space-agency partners including ESA, NASA, and UNOOSA.
Asteroid Day firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Asteroid Day
- Legal name
- Asteroid Foundation
- Website
- https://asteroidday.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Asteroid Day is a UN-sanctioned global awareness campaign operated by the Luxembourg-based Asteroid Foundation, delivering a 24-hour live broadcast, an annual public festival, and free multilingual educational resources to event organisers, students, and the general public across 70+ countries, funded by sponsorships, donations, and merchandise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Asteroid Day industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Science Awareness and Education
- NAICS
- Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National/Seasonal Holiday Festivals (New Year, Harvest, Winter Markets) (MPAGAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG), Virtual Community Festivals & Cultural Events (Online Celebrations) (MPAGAOAK)
Keywords
Where Asteroid Day is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Luxembourg
- HQ country
- Luxembourg
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Asteroid Day business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Financial Support: Asteroid Day is a non-profit global awareness campaign that relies on public donations and financial contributions to deliver its programs, including the 24-hour Asteroid Day LIVE broadcast, online educational resources, and event support materials.
- Corporate Sponsorship: The program receives sponsorship support from organizations including Luxembourg Space Agency (main power sponsor), Asteroid Foundation sponsors such as André Losch Fondation, FEDIL GLAE, and others. Sponsors are recognized on the Asteroid Day website and at events.
- Merchandise Sales: Asteroid Day sells merchandise through its website to generate revenue supporting its awareness and education programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Asteroid Day product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Asteroid Day is a UN-designated global awareness campaign that organizes and supports public events, broadcasts, and educational programs about asteroids and planetary defence. Its core offerings include the 24-hour Asteroid Day LIVE global broadcast, the annual Asteroid Day Festival and Space Lecture in Luxembourg, multilingual downloadable exhibitions (3D models, posters, lesson plans), the Astronomer for a Night observation program, and resources/toolkits that enable thousands of independent event organizers worldwide to run local events on June 30 each year.
Product overview
Asteroid Day is a global awareness campaign and educational program centered on asteroid science and planetary defence. Rather than a unified software product, it operates as a portfolio of interconnected programs including the annual Asteroid Day LIVE broadcast, the Asteroid Day Festival, and the Asteroid Day Space Lecture. The organization distributes educational resources including the 3D Asteroid Models Exhibition, Minor Bodies Major Impact Exhibition, and Missions to Asteroids Exhibition—all downloadable materials for educators and event organizers. Additional offerings include the Astronomer for a Night observation program, Art & Science Performance events, the 100X Declaration advocacy initiative, and comprehensive event organization support. The program is powered by the Luxembourg-based Asteroid Foundation and operates in partnership with ESA, NASA, and the UN.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Asteroid Day LIVE A 24-hour global live broadcast featuring astronauts, scientists, and space experts, produced from Luxembourg and streamed free on YouTube to worldwide audiences on June 30 each year.
- Asteroid Day Festival An annual public event held at Cercle Cité in Luxembourg, featuring interactive panels, hands-on activities, expert discussions, and space-themed workshops for all ages, with selected sessions live-streamed.
- Asteroid Day Space Lecture A specialized educational event for university students and space professionals featuring case studies, expert presentations, and networking opportunities with industry leaders, held as part of the Luxembourg programme.
- Astronomer for a Night
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ events organized independently in 70+ countries annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Asteroid Day
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Asteroid Day technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Asteroid Day partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)flagshipAsteroid Day formed a formal partnership with UNOOSA on May 21, 2019, strengthening the campaign's connection to the United Nations system and reinforcing its role as a globally recognized observance for asteroid awareness and planetary defence.
- Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA)flagshipThe Luxembourg Space Agency powers the Asteroid Foundation and co-organizes the annual Asteroid Day programme in Luxembourg, including the flagship Luxembourg event, the Astronaut for a Day youth competition, and the Asteroid Day Festival. LSA is the primary institutional partner.
- European Space Agency (ESA)coreESA supports Asteroid Day as a key institutional partner, contributing speakers, expert panels, and mission updates to the Asteroid Day LIVE broadcast and Luxembourg festival programme. ESA mission data (DART, Hera, etc.) is featured in educational resources.
- NASAcoreNASA supports Asteroid Day as a key institutional partner, providing astronaut participation, mission updates (OSIRIS-REx, DART, Psyche, Lucy), and scientific expertise to the campaign's broadcasts and events.
- FNR – Luxembourg National Research FundcoreThe FNR supports the Asteroid Day 2025 programme as a funding partner, contributing to the delivery of educational events and expert programming in Luxembourg.
- André Losch FondationcoreAndré Losch Fondation is a sponsor of the Asteroid Day programme, supporting the Luxembourg flagship event and festival activities.
- European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC)minorESRIC participates in the Asteroid Day 2025 programme, contributing expertise on space resources and asteroid utilization to panel discussions and educational content.
- European Commission – Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS)coreThe European Commission's DEFIS supports the Asteroid Day 2025 programme, aligning with the EU's interests in space safety, planetary defence, and space resources.
- ClearSpace LuxembourgminorClearSpace Luxembourg contributes expert speakers to Asteroid Day panels, providing insights on active debris removal and space sustainability, complementing planetary defence themes.
- GomSpaceminorGomSpace, a Luxembourg-based space company, contributes to the Asteroid Day Space Lecture series with case studies and business insights on satellite and spacecraft technologies.
- OHBminorOHB, a European space technology company, sponsors the Asteroid Day 2025 programme in Luxembourg.
- Novotel LuxembourgminorNovotel Luxembourg provides hospitality support as a sponsor for Asteroid Day 2025 participants and speakers.
- Embassy of Switzerland in LuxembourgminorThe Embassy of Switzerland in Luxembourg supports the Asteroid Day 2025 programme as a national embassy sponsor.
- Ville de Luxembourg (VDL)coreThe City of Luxembourg provides venue support and municipal endorsement for the Asteroid Day Festival and related events held at Cercle Cité and other city venues.
- Groupement Luxembourgeois de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (GLAE)coreGLAE, the Luxembourg aerospace and space industry association (FEDIL GLAE), is a sponsor and partner of Asteroid Day, representing the interests of Luxembourg's space sector and contributing to programme delivery.
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT)minorThe SnT at the University of Luxembourg contributes academic expertise and student engagement to Asteroid Day panels and the Space Lecture series.
- Marcelo Zurita (Asteroid Day Regional Coordinator, Brazil)coreMarcelo Zurita, Asteroid Day Regional Coordinator in Brazil and CEO of APA (one of Brazil's oldest astronomical associations), created the Minor Bodies, Major Impact 3D asteroid exhibition. His work has been replicated by organizers in over 30 countries.
- Asteroid Foundation BoardflagshipThe Asteroid Foundation is the legal entity that runs Asteroid Day, established in Luxembourg via grand-ducal decree on June 22, 2017. The Foundation's Board provides governance, strategy, and oversight of the global campaign.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Asteroid Day competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- UNESCO International Days: UN agency that designates and coordinates international days and decades of observance across science, culture, and education. Comparable in its role orchestrating UN-designated awareness days, but operates at vastly larger scale and scope.
- National Geographic Society: Large non-profit science education and exploration organization with global public engagement, education grants, and high-profile ambassadors. Comparable at the level of donor/sponsor-funded science awareness, though with much broader mission and resources.
Direct peers
- Earth Day Network: Runs the global Earth Day observance with worldwide events, corporate sponsors, and education resources. Closely analogous operating model (annual awareness day, decentralized events, sponsorship-funded non-profit, multilingual educational toolkits).
- DarkSky International: US-headquartered non-profit running global awareness campaigns, advocacy, and education around light pollution. Comparable single-issue science awareness non-profit with chapter-based organizing and corporate/grant funding mix.
- World Science Festival: Annual multi-day science communication festival in New York with global live broadcasts and education programmes. Comparable science awareness event format, A-list scientific talent, and sponsorship-funded non-profit operating model.
- The Planetary Society: The world's largest space advocacy non-profit, focused on planetary science, exploration, and planetary defence. Directly comparable mission overlap (asteroid awareness), non-profit donor model, and celebrity scientist leadership (Bill Nye).
- World Space Week: UN-declared annual global celebration of space (Oct 4-10) coordinated by a small secretariat and a worldwide network of national coordinators. Directly comparable as another UN-designated space awareness observance with a decentralized organizer model.
- Yuri's Night: Global celebration of human spaceflight held annually on April 12, organized through a decentralized network of independently hosted parties and events. Comparable grassroots event network model for space-themed public engagement.
Emerging players
- Royal Institution: UK charity producing public science lectures, demonstrations, and educational content. Comparable year-round science communication programming and educational resource distribution, though not an annual global observance day.
- B612 Foundation: US non-profit focused on planetary defence against asteroid impacts, co-founded by Asteroid Day co-founders Rusty Schweickart and Danica Remy. Closely aligned mission and shared leadership, but operates primarily as an advocacy/policy non-profit rather than an awareness-day organizer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Asteroid Day social profiles
Digital presenceAsteroid Day financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Asteroid Day leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Asteroid Day funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Asteroid Day M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Asteroid Day
What does Asteroid Day do?
Asteroid Day is a UN-designated global awareness campaign that organizes and supports public events, broadcasts, and educational programs about asteroids and planetary defence. Its core offerings include the 24-hour Asteroid Day LIVE global broadcast, the annual Asteroid Day Festival and Space Lecture in Luxembourg, multilingual downloadable exhibitions (3D models, posters, lesson plans), the Astronomer for a Night observation program, and resources/toolkits that enable thousands of independent event organizers worldwide to run local events on June 30 each year.
Is Asteroid Day a public or private company?
Asteroid Day is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Asteroid Day founded?
Asteroid Day was founded in 2014. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Asteroid Day based?
Asteroid Day is headquartered in Luxembourg, Luxembourg, in the Europe region.
How does Asteroid Day make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Financial Support is the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship and merchandise Sales.
Who are Asteroid Day's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are UNESCO International Days and National Geographic Society. Direct peers are Earth Day Network, DarkSky International, World Science Festival, The Planetary Society, World Space Week and Yuri's Night. Emerging players are Royal Institution and B612 Foundation.
Does Asteroid Day have an API?
No public API is recorded for Asteroid Day.
What industry is Asteroid Day in?
Asteroid Day's product category is Space Science Awareness and Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAEAD, National/Seasonal Holiday Festivals (New Year, Harvest, Winter Markets), with a secondary code of MPAGAEAG, Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks). Its NAICS code is 561591 and its SIC code is 7990.