A potentially hazardous asteroid named Apophis is set to pass closer to Earth than many satellites on April 13, 2029, but NASA assures there is no risk of impact.
A large asteroid, roughly the size of the Eiffel Tower, is expected to make a notably close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029. According to NASA, the asteroid, known as Apophis, will pass approximately 20,000 miles from the Earth’s surface—closer than many satellites currently in orbit.
Apophis is classified as “potentially hazardous” due to its size and proximity to Earth. It is composed of leftover “raw material” that never coalesced into a planet or moon. When Apophis was first discovered in 2004, there were concerns it might impact Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068. However, NASA has since monitored the asteroid closely using optical telescopes and ground-based radar, which has allowed scientists to refine its orbital path. Based on this extensive data, NASA is now confident that there is no risk of Apophis impacting Earth for at least the next century.
Apophis was initially discovered on June 19, 2004, by astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi at the Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona. Due to technical issues and weather conditions, they were only able to observe the asteroid for two days. Later, in December 2004, another team of astronomers in Australia successfully tracked Apophis.
As the 2029 close approach approaches, observatories worldwide, including those in space, will observe Apophis to gain insights into its physical properties. In preparation for this event, NASA has redirected a spacecraft to rendezvous with Apophis shortly after its close approach to Earth. Following its successful mission to collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu, which was returned to Earth in September 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has been renamed OSIRIS-APophis EXplorer (OSIRIS-APEX) and is now en route to study Apophis.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is also planning to send a spacecraft to investigate the asteroid. Apophis is expected to be visible to observers in the Eastern Hemisphere, weather permitting, and can be seen without the aid of a telescope or binoculars.
NASA emphasizes the significance of this event, noting that as Apophis passes close to Earth, it will experience gravitational forces that will pull, twist, stretch, and squeeze the asteroid. This close encounter will alter Apophis’s orbit around the Sun, resulting in a slightly larger orbit and a longer orbital period.
As scientists prepare for this historic event, they are eager to learn more about Apophis and its characteristics, which could provide valuable information about the early solar system and the formation of celestial bodies.
According to NASA, the upcoming close approach of Apophis presents a unique opportunity for research and observation.