Earth could have an in depth encounter with the asteroid Apophis, also called the “God of Destruction” on Friday, April 13, 2029. Named after the Egyptian deity of chaos, this large asteroid will come inside 19,000 miles (30,600 kilometres) of our planet, shut sufficient to be seen to the bare eye. However, current analysis suggests {that a} collision with smaller asteroids might probably alter Apophis’s trajectory, elevating considerations about future encounters.
Research on Apophis’s Trajectory
Paul Wiegert, an astronomer on the University of Western Ontario, has investigated the impact of smaller area rocks on Apophis’s path. Wiegert told Space.com, whereas the possibilities of such collisions occurring are minimal, there stays a slight danger.
He calculates that the likelihood of an asteroid deflecting Apophis sufficient to pose a menace after 2029 is about one in a single million, as per the report. The chance of an asteroid hanging Apophis and inflicting a direct affect with Earth in 2029 is even decrease, roughly one in two billion.
Potential Impact and Future Monitoring
Apophis, which was first found in 2004, has been carefully monitored as a result of its potential hazard. Initial assessments positioned it excessive on danger lists, however an in depth flyby in March 2021 reassured scientists {that a} collision with Earth is just not anticipated for at the very least 100 years. However, the current study highlights that random impacts from smaller asteroids might nonetheless pose a future danger.
The asteroid’s attainable collision with Earth might have catastrophic penalties. If Apophis have been to affect a densely populated space, it might unleash power equal to greater than 1,000 megatons of TNT, inflicting widespread devastation. Fortunately, with present expertise and potential future interventions, reminiscent of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), scientists hope to have methods to deflect or mitigate the specter of Apophis.
Future Prospects
While Apophis’s imminent move in 2029 is just not anticipated to lead to a collision, it presents a beneficial alternative for scientific research and preparedness. As the astronomical neighborhood continues to discover methods to guard Earth from potential asteroid impacts, the shut method of Apophis serves as an important check of our readiness to deal with such threats.
