Asteroid Apophis May Still Have a Small Chance of Hitting Earth in 2029 5h6j6w Study Reveals

The study hints at a slim chance that asteroid Apophis could hit Earth in 2029 due to a potential impact with another asteroid before it es by. 2a293o

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 13 September 2024 16:57 IST

Asteroid Apophis May Still Have a Small Chance of Hitting Earth in 2029, Study Reveals

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Javier Miranda 994a

Apophis, a 'city-killer' asteroid, will fly very close to Earth in 2029

Highlights

Apophis might hit Earth due to an asteroid impact before 2029
Current data shows an extremely low chance of collision
Final risk assessment will be known by 2027

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There's a slight chance that the enormous collision, although highly unlikely, can't be completely dismissed just yet.

A Very Close Flyby 4s6s5

Apophis is expected to Earth on April 13, 2029, at a distance of about 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometres). That's closer than some of our satellites orbiting the planet. Early observations triggered fears of a collision, but astronomers later confirmed it would miss us by a narrow margin. Despite this, Apophis's proximity still raises concerns, particularly around the possibility of its trajectory being altered by an outside force, like another asteroid.

Can Apophis Be Knocked Off Course? 46y2f

The idea that Apophis could be bumped onto a collision course with Earth stems from studies showing that asteroids can change direction if impacted by smaller objects. NASA's DART mission, which successfully changed the course of the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, demonstrated that this scenario is plausible. If Apophis were struck by a smaller asteroid in the next few years, its path might shift closer to Earth.

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New Study Suggests a Small Risk 6i4957

A recent study led by Paul Wiegert, an astronomer at Western University, analyzed the probability of such an event. According to Wiegert's findings, the chance of an unknown asteroid hitting Apophis and pushing it toward Earth is less than one-in-a-billion. However, scientists won't be able to completely rule out the possibility until they can observe Apophis again in 2027, once it comes back into view after moving too close to the sun.

Future Close Encounters with Apophis 241n4m

Even if Apophis does alter course, it's not guaranteed to bring it closer to Earth. The space rock has ed near our planet before and will continue to do so in the future, with significant flybys expected in 2051, 2066, and 2080. However, current models suggest no significant threat to Earth for at least the next 100 years.

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