It is being said that in 2029 a huge 1100 feet asteroid will pass very close to the Earth. Will it hit the Earth? Know what NASA has revealed.
Asteroid 99942 Apophis will be just a few miles from Earth.
Do asteroids hit Earth? They do! Past stories of the asteroid attack that killed the dinosaurs still haunt many people. There is a giant asteroid called 99942 Apophis which is a near-Earth object (NEO) and is said to make its scary approach towards Earth in 2029. NASA has confirmed that this giant object is about 1,100 feet (335 meters) in size. On April 14, 2029, asteroid 99942 Apophis will be only 38,012 KM or 23,619 miles away from Earth. For reference, it should be noted that the average distance between Earth and the Moon is about 239,000 miles. This means that asteroid 99942 Apophis is about 10 times closer to the Moon
Will it hit the Earth? NASA busts the rumors.
NASA has confirmed that asteroid 99942 Apophis was identified as one of the most dangerous asteroids when it was discovered in 2004. However, over time as scientists tracked impact assessments, its orbit was better determined. Finally, a radar observation with orbit analysis in March 2021 confirmed that there is no threat asteroid strike By Apophis 2029.
However, it was later discovered that “a 2068 impact is no longer within the realm of possibility, and our calculations do not show any impact risk for at least the next 100 years,” Davide Farnocchia of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) said in a blog post. Farnocchia referenced the Sentry Impact Risk Table, which is maintained by CNEOS to track asteroids that could potentially impact Earth. Recent findings have removed Apophis from this risk table.
You can catch a glimpse of the asteroid
However, it will pass at a safe distance, giving you a chance to catch a glimpse of the asteroid. NASA said Apophis will be closer than geosynchronous satellites on April 13, 2029. During this close approach, Apophis will be visible to observers in the Eastern Hemisphere without the need for binoculars or telescopes. This event presents a rare opportunity for astronomers to study a solar system remnant that has transformed from a potential threat to a subject of scientific interest.