Topline
In 1,000 days, on April 13, 2029, the near-Earth asteroid Apophis will make one of the closest flybys of a large asteroid ever predicted with certainty. Named after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, it will safely pass just 20,000 miles (32,000 km) above Earth — closer than many communication satellites, and close enough to see from some parts of Earth’s surface. It’s an event predicted to occur just once every 5,000- 10,000 years.
Read more Apple Briefly Unseats Nvidia As World’s Largest Company
Could Apophis strike Earth in 2029?
Apophis first hit the headlines in 2006 after a paper published calculated a 2.7% chance it could strike Earth in 2029, 2036 or 2068. In 2021, it was announced that Apophis would not strike Earth for at least a century. However, according to 2024 simulations, scientists theorized that Apophis could collide with a small asteroid, altering its trajectory. The odds are exceptionally small — around one in a million — but it’s not impossible. Unfortunately for scientists, there’s no way to check until 2027, as Apophis will remain in the daytime sky until then.
Read more Elon Musk’s Net Worth Drops Below $800 Billion After Starship Launch Aborted
Asteroid Apophis: The RAMSES Mission
The European Space Agency’s Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (RAMSES) will rendezvous with asteroid Apophis ahead of its historic close flyby of Earth. In February, ESA signed a contract with OHB Italia to begin construction, assembly and testing of the spacecraft. It’s scheduled to launch in spring 2028 and arrive in early 2029, allowing scientists to study the asteroid before, during and after its close flyby of Earth. The spacecraft will make detailed measurements of Apophis’ shape, rotation, orbit, surface and internal structure while observing how Earth’s gravity alters the asteroid during the flyby. Scientists expect the close encounter to subtly change Apophis’ spin, orientation and possibly even trigger landslides on its surface. “With Ramses, ESA is seizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study asteroid Apophis as it swings past Earth, deepening our understanding of near-Earth objects and advancing our capabilities to protect our planet,” said Orson Sutherland, Mars & Beyond Projects Group Leader at ESA.
Read more Trump Death Threats: Three Men Arrested For Threats On TikTok, Facebook And Rumble
Further reading
ForbesWill ‘Apophis’ Hit Earth In 2029? We’ll Know In 2027, Scientist SaysBy Jamie CarterForbes50 Days To A Total Solar Eclipse — Where And When To Experience ItBy Jamie CarterForbesWhy Americans Cannot Ignore August’s Total Solar EclipseBy Jamie CarterForbesTuesday’s New Moon Sets Up A Total Solar Eclipse In 29 DaysBy Jamie CarterForbesMeet The World Cup Country About To Have 3 Spectacular Solar Eclipses In 3 YearsBy Jamie CarterForbesNASA Drops Map Of Next Total Solar Eclipse — And It Visits The U.S.By Jamie Carter