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Coconino County proclaims June 30, 2025, Asteroid Day; Lowell Observatory outlines local events
Summary
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a proclamation designating June 30, 2025, as Asteroid Day and heard plans from Lowell Observatory for a slate of educational events tied to the anniversary.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to proclaim June 30, 2025, “Asteroid Day” in recognition of the county’s long involvement in planetary science and astrotourism.
The proclamation notes that June 30 marks the 10th anniversary of the global Asteroid Day observance, commemorates the 1908 Tunguska event and highlights local contributions to planetary science including the naming of asteroid 2939 Coconino and the work of Gene Shoemaker. The text adopted by the board cites Lowell Observatory and Meteor Crater as major regional assets that draw visitors and support local jobs.
Lowell Observatory joined the meeting remotely. Dr. Amanda Bosch, executive director of Lowell Observatory, told supervisors the observatory and partners including Meteor Crater and Northern Arizona University will host a range of public programming on June 30, from family activities to presentations. Bosch said astronaut Rusty Schweickart — one of the original Apollo-era astronauts and a founder of Asteroid Day — will appear at Lowell and at Meteor Crater as part of the day’s events. Kevin Schindler, identified in the meeting as a Lowell historian, outlined additional speakers and family programming planned that day.
Chair Patrice Horstman, who read the board’s remarks about local scientific contributions, said the proclamation is intended to highlight Flagstaff and Coconino County’s “dark sky” and research heritage and to encourage staff and community members to participate in the celebrations.
The board’s motion to adopt the proclamation was moved and seconded on the record and carried unanimously.
Lowell representatives asked the county to share event listings for publication on county channels; supervisors agreed to make the information available on the county website.
Why it matters: the proclamation recognizes a cluster of cultural and scientific institutions in Coconino County — Lowell Observatory and Meteor Crater among them — that are part of the region’s economic base and public education offerings. The county’s formal recognition also creates an avenue for county communications to help promote the events to residents and visitors.
