Asteroid Apophis Could Experience Surface Changes Due to Earth’s Gravity During 2029 Flyby 3o3e6v Technology News

In 2029, asteroid Apophis will come close to Earth, potentially triggering tremors and landslides on its surface. 3l6d1x

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 6 November 2024 23:25 IST

Asteroid Apophis Could Experience Surface Changes Due to Earth’s Gravity During 2029 Flyby

Photo Credit: ESA 6q734t

A rendering of the lobed asteroid Itokawa, used as a stand-in for Apophis in recent research.

Highlights

Apophis asteroid to close to Earth in April 2029
Earth’s gravity may cause tremors and rock shifts on Apophis
NASA mission to study Apophis after close encounter

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In April 2029, Earth—at just 20,000 miles away, closer than many satellites. The encounter may trigger significant physical changes on the asteroid's surface due to Earth's gravitational pull, potentially causing landslides and tremors, according to a recent study. Apophis, a 340-meter, peanut-shaped asteroid named after the ancient Egyptian deity associated with chaos, is not expected to impact Earth. However, this flyby could offer scientists a unique opportunity to observe how gravitational forces affect small celestial bodies.

New Insights into Surface Alterations 313m7

The study, currently available on the space, close planetary encounters can also alter an asteroid's appearance. The gravitational pull from Earth is expected to disrupt Apophis' surface by triggering tremors, lifting rocks, and creating visible patterns.

Predicted Surface Shifts and Landslides 4e2d1n

The team's models suggest that Apophis will experience surface tremors starting an hour before it reaches its closest approach to Earth, potentially dislodging boulders. Although Apophis' own gravity is weak, this gravitational “shaking” could loft rocks briefly before they fall back, forming new surface features. Additionally, Apophis' irregular rotation, or "tumbling," might accelerate or slow down due to Earth's gravitational influence. These shifts in tumbling could further destabilise rocks over time, potentially leading to gradual landslides that shape the asteroid's surface over tens of thousands of years.

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Future Observations with NASA's OSIRIS-APEX Mission 6k474w

Scientists hope to these findings when NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft studies Apophis in 2029. Repurposed from its earlier mission to the asteroid Bennu, OSIRIS-APEX is set to examine Apophis' chemical composition and surface features over an 18-month mission. This research could help solve longstanding questions about how gravitational encounters refresh asteroid surfaces, providing new insights into asteroid dynamics and planetary formation processes.

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