June 30 of every year marks the celebration of International Asteroid Day to commemorate the asteroid impact that took place in Tunguska, Siberia on June 30, 1908.
The annual event also aims to raise public awareness about the hazard of an asteroid impact.
As we celebrate International Asteroid Day today, we also pay tribute to Filipinos who have asteroids named after them because of their invaluable contribution and accomplishments in the field of Science.
6282 EDWELDA - Named in honor of couple Edwin and Imelda Joson for their notable contribution to Philippine Astronomy.
11697 ESTRELLA - Named after Allan Noriel Estrella from Manila Science High School for winning the 2002 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
12088 MACALINTAL - Named after Jeric Valles Macalintal, a groupmate of Estrella. Together they won the 2002 Intel ISEF.
12522 RARA - Named after Prem Vilas Fortran Rara of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. He won 2nd prize in the 2002 Intel ISEF Microbiology category.
13241 BIYO - Named after Dr. Josette Biyo, a science teacher at the Philippine Science High School in Ilo-Ilo. The first Asian to bag the Intel Excellence in Teaching Award in 2002. She is currently the Director of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute.
4866 BADILLO - Named in honor of Fr. Victor Badillo, co-founder of the Philippine Astronomical Society.
6636 KINTANAR - Named in honor of Dr. Roman Kintanar, who is a former Director of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (1958-1994) and former president of the World Meteorological Organization (1979-1987).
28439 MIGUELREYES - Named after Miguel Arnold Reyes of the Philippine Science High School. He won 2nd prize in the 2011 Intel ISEF under the category of Materials and Bioengineering.
30100 CHRISTOPHERGO - Named in honor of Christopher Go for his exceptional contribution to Astrophotography. He discovered Oval BA in Jupiter, also known as Red Spot Jr. in 2006.
34044 OBAFIAL - Named after Nadine Antonette Obafial from Davao City National High School. She won 2nd prize in the 2017 Intel ISEF with Rubeliene Chezka Gloria and Myrelle Angela Colas.
34047 GLORIA - Named after Rubeliene Chezka Gloria from Davao City National High School. She won 2nd prize in the 2017 Intel ISEF with Obafial and Colas.
34049 MYRELLEANGELA - Named after Myrelle Angela Colas, also from Davao City National High School. She won 2nd prize in the 2017 Intel ISEF with Obafial and Gloria.
34053 CARLQUINES - Named after Carl Joshua Quines from Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science. He won 2nd prize in the 2017 Intel ISEF for his work on graph theory in Mathematics.