‘God of chaos’ asteroid Apophis will pass very close to Earth in 2029
For a brief stretch on April 13, 2029, a giant space rock will slip closer to Earth than some of the satellites parked high above the planet. That object is Apophis, an asteroid once treated as a serious threat. Now it is viewed as one of the most unusual scientific opportunities in modern astronomy. Apophis is not headed for impact. That part is settled. But the asteroid’s close flyby is still extraordinary because of what Earth itself may do to it on the way past. The asteroid, officially known as 99942 Apophis, is expected to pass about 20,000 miles, or 32,000 kilometers, above Earth’s surface. At roughly 375 meters across on average, it is large enough to command attention and close enough to become visible to the naked eye in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, weather permitting. In fact, space agencies say it will be the closest approach of an asteroid this size that scientists have known about in advance. That makes the 2029 event more than a sky show. It turns Earth into …
