Why we're watching Apophis

The menacing asteroid Apophis will pass by Earth in 2029, posing no threat but offering valuable scientific insights.

On April 13, 2029, the notorious asteroid Apophis will make a close approach to Earth, coming within 20,000 miles of our planet’s surface. This distance is closer than telecommunications satellites in geostationary orbit, and the asteroid will be visible in the Eastern Hemisphere as a bright streak in the sky. While there is no risk of Apophis hitting Earth in 2029 or 2036, it is classified as a near-Earth asteroid due to its proximity.

The Size and Potential Impact of Apophis:

Apophis measures nearly a quarter of a mile long, comparable to the size of a cruise ship or about five football fields. If it were to hit Earth, the energy released would be equivalent to more than 1,000 megatons of TNT, resulting in widespread destruction. Thankfully, astronomers have determined that there is no risk of an impact for at least the next century.

The Name and Origin of Apophis:

The asteroid is named after the ancient Egyptian god of disorder, a demon serpent representing evil and chaos. Apophis originated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and its orbit has been altered over millions of years by the gravitational influence of large planets.

Scientific Opportunities Presented by Apophis:

Space agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) plan to study Apophis during its close approach. NASA's OSIRIS-APophis EXplorer (OSIRIS-APEX), formerly OSIRIS-REx, will rendezvous with the asteroid in June 2029 to map its surface and analyze its chemical composition. Meanwhile, the ESA plans to launch the Ramses spacecraft to meet Apophis before its Earth flyby and observe how its surface changes during its proximity to our planet.

NASA's Efforts to Mitigate Dangerous Asteroids:

NASA has taken several steps to protect Earth from asteroid threats, including the successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in 2022 and ongoing exercises to prepare for potential asteroid impact events. The agency is also developing the NEO Surveyor telescope to detect and catalog near-Earth objects capable of causing significant damage.

Sources:

• https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids/apophis/
• https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/Apophis
• https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/
• https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-analysis-earth-is-safe-from-asteroid-apophis-for-100-plus-years
• https://www.planetary.org/articles/will-apophis-hit-earth
• https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/osiris-rex/in-depth/
• https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-apex/
• https://www.nasa.gov/missions/osiris-apex/nasa-asteroid-sampling-mission-renamed-osiris-apex-for-new-journey/
• https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/Introducing_Ramses_ESA_s_mission_to_asteroid_Apophis
• https://dart.jhuapl.edu/Mission/index.php
• https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-partners-conduct-fifth-asteroid-impact-exercise-release-summary/
• https://www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/overview
• https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/construction-begins-on-nasas-next-generation-asteroid-hunter