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ScienceAsteroid Apophis to pass within 20,000 miles of Earth on April 13, 2029
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Asteroid Apophis, named after the Egyptian god of chaos, will pass within 20,000 miles of Earth on 13 April 2029. The asteroid has a mean diameter of 340 meters and is at least 450 meters long, comparable to the Empire State Building. Originally thought to potentially impact Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068, scientists have confirmed it will safely pass and poses no threat for at least 100 years. Under clear conditions, it will be visible to the naked eye across the Eastern Hemisphere, including parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. NASA describes the flyby as an unprecedented opportunity for scientific study, with observatories and spacecraft planned to monitor and sample the asteroid. Such a close pass by a large asteroid occurs only every few thousand years.
Source report
A massive asteroid is set to soar past Earth, and under the right conditions, it will be visible to the naked eye for billions of people around the world.
The asteroid is named Apophis, after the Egyptian god of chaos and destruction. It was originally thought that it might impact Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068. However, scientists have since confirmed that it will safely pass close to our planet — and will not impact Earth for at least 100 years.
Here is what you need to know.
How Big Is the Apophis Asteroid?
Pretty huge.
- It has a mean diameter of 340 metres and is at least 450 metres long.
- For perspective, the Empire State Building is 443 metres tall (including the spire and antenna).
According to NASA, the asteroid is thought to be peanut-shaped and is made up of leftover "raw material" that was never part of a planet or moon.
Apophis was discovered in 2004 by the late astronomer Roy Tucker, along with David Tholen and Fabrizio Bernardi.
When Will It Pass Earth?
Mark your calendars for 13 April 2029.
The asteroid will come within about 20,000 miles of Earth's surface — closer than the distance of many satellites in orbit.
Where and How Can I See It?
Experts say that if conditions are clear, Apophis will be visible to the naked eye in the Eastern Hemisphere, which includes parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.
NASA described the event as "an amazing and totally unprecedented opportunity to learn much more about Apophis and similar near-Earth asteroids."
"An asteroid this large passes this close to Earth only every few thousand years on average, so it's likely that an event like this has not happened at any time in recorded human history. Without a doubt this is the first time it's happened when humans have had the technology to observe it."
During the flyby, observatories will monitor the asteroid, and a couple of spacecraft will also be sent to study it closely and gather samples.
A Sky-Gazing Event This Summer
For those disappointed by the wait until 2029, there is a notable sky-gazing event happening sooner.
On 12 August 2026, in what has been dubbed a "cosmic double whammy," there will be a partial solar eclipse in the early evening, followed by the Perseid meteor shower later that night.
Source
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Western
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Asteroid Apophis, Size of Empire State Building, to Pass Close to Earth in 2029