A 300-400 meter asteroid strike would release 10-100 times the energy; asteroid Apophis is about 450 meters along its long axis, expected to release ~1200 MT As described by NASA, the April 13, 2029 flyby of asteroid Apophis will be one for the record books, because of the proximity and the large size of asteroid Apophis. This Februarys calendar has lots of twos. With the support of recent optical observations and additional radar observations, the uncertainty in Apophis orbit has collapsed from hundreds of kilometers to just a handful of kilometers when projected to 2029. ET on Thursday, as it skirts over the Southeastern Pacific Ocean, near Australia and New Zealand. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/asteroids/apophis/in-depth (opens in new tab), Sentry: Earth impact monitoring. Very, though the exact degree is unclear, as it would depend on the asteroid's composition. Nasa analysis: Earth is safe from asteroid apophis for 100-plus years. Close, in the space world, is a relative term. If we ever did have to deflect an incoming asteroid, thats how wed do it: not with a grand, Death Star-style explosion but with a speedy projectile strong enough to knock it ever-so-slightly off course. The possibility of an impact by Apophis will depend on gravitational keyholes, regions in space that are heavily affected by the gravitational pull of nearby planets. At its closest approach to earth, shortly before 6 p.m. NASA Mission Helps Solve a Mystery: Why Are Some Asteroid Surfaces Rocky. Given the proximity, researchers will also be able to study Apophis with ground-based tools that have never been deployed for an object this size. Here are the next 5 asteroids, passing within 4.6 million miles of Earth in 2019. But just what exactly is this asteroid that had so many people worried? Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.s Open University. These probabilities were refined with radar observations the following year. Since its discovery, optical and radar telescopes have tracked Apophis as it orbits the Sun and scientists are confident they know its future trajectory. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Last year, its Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft deliberately crashed into a rock 7 million miles away to see whether humans could change the trajectory of a celestial object. after a series of studies, NASA and astronomers no longer predict an asteroid impact in 2029. We now know Apophis won't strike our planet in the near future. Design & Development: On April 13th, 2029, the asteroid known as Apophis will pass by Earth at a distance of just 19,000 miles. Astronomers use a color-coded warning system called the Torino scale to gauge the degree of danger an asteroid or comet presents to Earth in the next 100 years. At the peak of fear regarding this possibility, Apophis made waves for being the first asteroid to achieve a rating of four on the Torino impact hazard scale for two years. Its closest approach to earth will occur around 7:12 a.m. In fact, it will be so close so anyone in the Eastern Hemisphere would be able to see it, even without telescopes or binoculars. The asteroid Apophis recorded by radio antennas at the Deep Space Networks Goldstone complex in California and the Green Bank Telescope in West In the early morning hours of August 16, the asteroid passed within 1,800 miles of the earths surface over the Indian Ocean and was only discovered after having zipped past our planet. Related: It's Time to Get Serious About Asteroid Threats, NASA Chief Says. After its discovery in 2004, astronomers rated its chance of hitting our planet in 2029 as high as one in 37, the highest in recorded history for any asteroid. The massive Chicxulub asteroid that 66 million years ago slammed into what is now the Yucatn peninsula in Mexico released an estimated 420 zettajoules of energy. Apophis will still pass by the Earth in 2029 specifically on April 13 at a distance less than 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) from the Earth's surface. Sometimes, there is also a rocking motion back and forth about its long axis, as well, which occurs over a longer period than the short axis wobble. At its closest approach to earth, shortly before 6 p.m. There isn't anything like it in the geological record of our planet. Bill Dunford However, further observations quickly revealed a wealth of details about the asteroid. This project is set to be tested soon, on an asteroid far away from the planet. NASA is redirecting a spacecraft to study the asteroid. Though it may appear far away for those of us down here, it will in fact be near enough for NASA to reach out and touch it. NASA added that Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, chaos and destruction will be visible to observers on the ground in the Eastern Hemisphere without the aid of a telescope or binoculars. As a result of its close encounter with Earth in 2029, the asteroid's orbit will be widened to become slightly larger than the width of Earth's orbit. And data gathered about Apophis could inform what scientists know about these other asteroids, since this particular space rock seems superficially similar to about 80% of the potentially hazardous asteroids scientists have identified to date. Scientists Planning Now for Apophis Fly By, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=18&v=1PLIAgXjV9o. And in 2021, radar observations confirmed that Apophis will not strike when it passes us in 2068, leaving Earth in the clear for at least a century. DART team members have filled the spacecraft with fuel, and are running rehearsals as they approach launch on Nov. 23, 2021. Why did scientists think Apophis was dangerous? (In Los Angeles, experienced stargazers might be able to spot it with binoculars around 3:30 a.m. on April 13.). Asteroids, comets, Kuiper Belt Objectsall kinds of small bodies of rock, metal and ice are in constant motion as they orbit the Sun. Apophis is as long as the Eiffel Tower. (n.d.). Since the scales adopted in 1999, none of the roughly 30,000 near-Earth objects known to exist in the solar system had ranked higher than 1 on the zero-to-10 scale. DART is the first mission that will demonstrate asteroid deflection by changing an asteroids motion in space through kinetic impact. HOME| Asteroid scientists and planetary defense experts have already begun that work, with a series of presentations at the conference here highlighting topics they'd like to consider between now and the 2029 Apophis flyby. The successes of the past year or so have put engineers on a strong footing for such missions: NASA's Mars InSight mission placed the first robotically deployed seismometer on another planet. Estimated to be about 1,100 feet (340 meters) across, Apophis quickly gained notoriety as an asteroid that could pose a serious threat to Earth when astronomers predicted that it would come uncomfortably close in 2029. The Chicxulub asteroid measured 7 miles across, the same as the city of Paris. That phenomenon, called the Yarkovsky effect, results from the temperature differential between the day and night sides of the asteroid. The probe is set to spend 18 months studying the infamous near-Earth asteroid Apophis, watching the rock during a close, but very safe, approach it will make to planet Earth in 2029. NASA Center for Near Earth Object Studies. "It has been stored in the asteroid belt for 4.6 billion years and might be a fragment of a larger asteroid that broke apart in a collision in the asteroid belt. However, the impact assessment changed as astronomers tracked Apophis using the 70-metre (230-foot) radio antenna at the Deep Space Networks Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex near Barstow, California.The US space agency NASA confirmed in 2021 that Earth was deemed "safe" from the space traveller for the next 100 years at least.NASA confirmed that on 13 April 2029, the asteroid Apophis will pass less than 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometres) from Earths surface, which is closer than the distance of geosynchronous satellites.NASA added that Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, chaos and destruction will be visible to observers on the ground in the Eastern Hemisphere without the aid of a telescope or binoculars. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech and NSF/AUI/GBO). Astronomy.Com. Its also an unprecedented opportunity for astronomers to get a close-up view of a solar system relic that is now just a scientific curiosity and not an immediate hazard to our planet. Its important to remember that Apophis poses no risk to Earth during its 2029 pass. "It's up to us to get ready.". Asteroid Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004. "At JPL's Center of Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) we compute high-precision trajectories and assess the possibility of future impacts for all known asteroids," said Farnocchia, who relished the challenge that Apophis presented. Over 100 participants from 18 countries including NASA scientists and the agencys NEOWISE mission took part in the international exercise. In this case, its nature doing the flyby for us.. (For context, the worlds collective electricity output in 2021 was about 0.5 zettajoules.). MEDIA KIT| At the annual Planetary Defense Conference being held this week in Maryland, scientists discussed the wide ranging research opportunities that the asteroid flyby will provide, while offering insights into what the general public can expect when the rock makes its pass. Even so, we were able to acquire incredibly precise information about its distance to an accuracy of about 150 meters [490 feet], said JPL scientist Marina Brozovic, who led the radar campaign. Psyche was tested to ensure it can operate in the extreme conditions it will face on its trip to a metal-rich asteroid. They'll observe from the ground, but with the announcement of a new mission for asteroid-sampling spacecraft OSIRIS-REx, they'll have the opportunity to watch the event from space as well. Asteroid Apophis won't collide with Earth in the next century, but its scientific impact will be tremendous. Related: Meteor showers and shooting stars: Formation, facts and discovery. Asteroid Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004. ET on April 13, 2029, the massive asteroid will cross over the Atlantic Ocean and the United States in a little The good news: it is expected to miss. Near-earth asteroid 2004 mn4 reaches highest score to date on hazard scale. An animation shows Apophis' 2029 path compared to the swarm of satellites orbiting Earth. Also among the ideas is a mission that would create an artificial crater on Apophis, as Hayabusa2 just did at an asteroid called Ryugu, in order to see below the weathered surface of the asteroid. Those proposed investigations bridge the two disciplines, asking questions applicable both to humanity's self-interest and to our greater understanding of the solar system we live in. Moore Boeck. But that impact assessment changed after astronomers tracked Apophis and its orbit became better determined. According to experts' calculations, if the asteroid were to directly impact Earth, the released energy would amount to 1,717 megatons - 30 times that of the Soviet thermonuclear bomb, tested in 1961. Even the strongest nuclear bomb ever tested, the Tsar Bomba, only had the force of around 50 megatons of TNT. If it did so, there was a chance it could have its orbit altered, leaving it on a collision course for the planet in 2036. Apophis will miss the Earth," he told Space.com via email. Here are images of Asteroid Apophis: Following a series of studies, astronomers do not think there will be an asteroid impact in 2029. Apophis, Bible Prophesy & the Year 2029 - Answers in Genesis The asteroid wobbles as it spins about its short axis, typically rotating about once every 30 hours. WebTradues em contexto de "Apophis passar" en portugus-ingls da Reverso Context : Na sexta-feira 13 do ms de Abril de 2029 o asteroide 99942 Apophis passar muito perto da Terra. NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) launched at 1:21 a.m. Learn more about the growing population of near-Earth objects with NASAs new 3D real-time web-based application. A key topic of interest is the degree to which Earth's gravitational pull may distort Apophis during the 2029 close approach. The radar team continues to analyze its data, and they expect to learn more about the asteroids shape. Even when this risk was negated, researchers still could not rule out the possibility that Earth's gravitational effects could influence the asteroid in such a way that one of its next visits could result in an impact, Space.com previously reported. While low, these estimates were still extreme enough to give Apophis the highest values on two systems used by astronomers to calculate how dangerous an asteroid is to our planet, each defined on the CNEOS website: the Torino Scale and the Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale (opens in new tab). Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/torino_scale.html (opens in new tab), Cooke, B. Ultimately, however, this situation now seems unlikely thanks to additional data gathered by astronomers. Fri 26 Mar 2021 23.30 EDT Last modified on Mon 29 Mar 2021 of Earth on Friday 13 April 2029, enabling astronomers to get a good look. But further calculations showed this was unlikely to happen. That might sound scary, but scientists are positive that it will not hit Earth. "Apophis is a piece of an early solar system planetesimal a planetary building block that never coalesced into one of our solar system's planets," Binzel said. Phil Davis They were only able to observe the asteroid for two days because of technical and weather problems. Itll be bright enough that scientists say itll be easily spotted with the naked eye, appearing similar to a star in the night sky, only moving very rapidly. A big one, though, can wreak havoc far beyond its initial impact site. CONTACT US. Read the article for the full story. But because of its forthcoming flybys, the asteroid's time as an object of intense scientific interest is just beginning. Gorgeous auroral glow surprises astrophotographer in California's Death Valley, Japan targeting Sunday for 2nd try at H3 rocket's debut launch, Astra rocket lost 2 NASA satellites due to 'runaway' cooling system error, Pictures from space! Radar images suggest it is elongated and possibly has two lobes, making it look something like a peanut. On April 13, 2029, the asteroid Apophis will pass less than 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) from our planets surface closer than the distance of This is closer to earth than the distance of earths geosynchronous satellites. Later estimates put it at much shorter, with scientists ultimately estimating it around 370 meters. Although scientists are positive Apophis won't hit Earth in 2029, they can't yet rule out possible collisions many decades in the future, and there are plenty of other large space rocks orbiting the sun in Earth's neighborhood. At the time, the asteroid was identified as 2004 MN4. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Discovered only on September 18, in Tucson, Arizona, the school bus-sized asteroid which is estimated to be somewhere between 15-30 feet in diameter is expected to graze past our planets surface with about 13,000 miles of breathing room. It completes an orbit around the Sun in a little less than one Earth year (about 0.9 years). According to NASA, there are likely hundreds of millions of near earth asteroids similar in size to 2020 SW and 2020 QG, making them extremely hard to discover until they are very close to earth. The asteroid appears to move in front of (Good news: We can.). NASA confirmed that on 13 April 2029, the asteroid Apophis will pass less than 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometres) from Earths surface, which is closer than the distance of geosynchronous satellites. On Friday, April 13, 2029, Earth will experience a dramatic close encounter with the asteroid 99942 Apophis. The 1,120 feet (340-meter) wide object will pass within just 19,000 miles (31,000 km) of our home planet a distance that brings it closer than most geostationary satellites. 1 Will Apophis hit Earth in 2029? They are often spotted years, if not decades, before a potential collision which is not great for dramatic tension but better for planetary survival. And both NASA's OSIRIS-REx and Japan's Hayabusa2 have excelled at operating close to small asteroids. NY 10036. It made history last month by becoming the closest non-impacting asteroid on record. Previous radar observations have suggested that Apophis has a bilobed, or peanutlike, appearance. Meghan earned an MA in science journalism from New York University and a BA in classics from Georgetown University, and in her free time she enjoys reading and visiting museums. "You could argue, is this science or planetary defense?" Thanks to additional observations of Apophis, the risk of an impact in 2029 was later ruled out, as was the potential impact risk posed by another close approach in 2036. Farnocchia and his colleagues wove together radar and optical tracking data collected in late 2020 and early 2021 to come up with a precise trajectory for Apophis, according to a statement from NASA (opens in new tab). And Apophis offers one of the best chances science has ever had to learn how the Earth came to be and how we might one day prevent its destruction. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! Experts in planetary defense track these objects and prepare techniques that could divert any that do pose a threat. Fortunately, the asteroid is not on an impact trajectory with earth, and if it were, our atmosphere would likely break it apart, creating a bright meteor, known as a fireball. ABOUT US| Follow her on Twitter at @meghanbartels. They won't be closer until 2032! This page showcases our resources for those interested in learning more about OSIRIS-REx. "A 2068 impact is not in the realm of possibility any more, and our calculations don't show any impact risk for at least the next 100 years," Davide Farnocchia of NASAs Center for Near-Earth Object Studies said in a statement last year. The asteroid's shape is believed to be elongated and composed of two lobes, like a rocky space peanut. ", Because Apophis seems to be similar to around 80% of the potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) identified so far, collecting data on it could help scientists learn how we might divert future PHAs should they threaten Earth in the future. Model of the expected close approach of 99942 Apophis (previously better known by its provisional designation 2004 MN4) to the Earth and Moon on April 13, 2029. ET on Nov. 24, 2021, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. "We have run simulations of an impact between Apophis and Earth, but at 340 meters across, the outcome of an Apophis-scale impact with Earth is very uncertain," said Gareth Collins, a professor in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London. The 6.5 foot asteroid poses no threat to Earth and its puny stature would be no match for our atmosphere even if it had an impact trajectory with earth. How did scientists decide Apophis was no danger? We will be able to see it (from the Eastern Hemisphere) without the aid of a telescope or binoculars. 7:19 PM EDT, Wed September 23, 2020, Asteroid 2020 QG made a record close approach to Earth on August 16, 2020, close pass of Earth on the day before Election Day. From the visual observations taken in 2004, researchers at CNEOS calculated that there was around a 2.7% chance that the object would hit Earth in 2029. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, And factors such as asteroid size, density and mass, as well as the angle and velocity at which the asteroid strikes, all affect how much damage a hit can cause. Yeah, this is going to be one seriously close shave, but as Space.com reports its going to be a day of celebration for scientists rather than fear, and the next decade will give researchers around the world an opportunity for something of a end-of-the-world dry run as they explore what measures they might one day have to take if a large space rock would ever threaten our survival. Managing Editor: I know I won't!". NASA is working on a plan to deal with that. An asteroid wider than three football fields, called 99942 Apophis, will make a flyby on Earth on April 13, 2029. The US space agency NASA confirmed in 2021 that Earth was deemed "safe" from the space traveller for the next 100 years at least. After its discovery in 2004, asteroid 99942 Apophis had been identified as one of the most hazardous asteroids that could potentially hit Earth. But even from the beginning, the risk was never that high, and the odds seemed firmly in place that such an impact wouldn't occur. The passage of Apophis in 2029 is a must-see event, according to the researchers. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. These asteroids are primordial samples, Chodas said. Because astronomers were unable to track Apophis from 2015 to 2019 (it was too close to the sun and, therefore, obscured by its light), further progress on ruling out a 2068 impact was not forthcoming. At present, it doesnt appear as though the rock will pose a threat during its flybys after 2060, but astronomers cant completely rule it out. Our image of the day, Earth's mysterious innermost core is a 400-mile-wide metallic ball, Your monthly guide to stargazing & space science, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with code 'LOVE5', Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Related: Whew! A decade from now, on April 15, 2029, an asteroid will swing past the Earth, just barely missing everything. OSIRIS-REx, a spacecraft currently ferrying home samples from the surface of an asteroid called Bennu, will rendezvous with Apophis in 2029. 2. On September 16, asteroid 2021 SG, ranging between 42 meters and 94 meters in size, flew past the Earth, and scientists never even knew it existed, let alone flying past the planet, until the next day. In 2029, Apophis will travel 19,400 miles from the surface of the earth, 11 times closer to us than our moon in what is called a close flyby. There was a while there when it seemed like it could. Until March 2021, however, a small chance of impact in 2068 still remained. For a bit of context, the Moon is somewhere between 225,000 and 252,000 miles away at any given time. Also known as asteroid 99942, the near-Earth object is estimated to be about 1,100 feet (340 meters) across and could cause serious damage to the planet's surface if it were to hit. It will be redirected to encounter Apophis during the asteroid's 2029 Earth flyby. The asteroidnicknamed Apophiswill be as close as It originated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. But there were still reasons to fear that an impact could happen, and that surrounds the existence of the gravitational keyhole. As suitably apocalyptic as that sounds, though, that may not be the main inspiration behind the name. But as of March 2021, NASA has confirmed that there is absolutely zero chance the space rock known as 99942 Apophis will strike this planet for at least 100 years. The first interplanetary cubesats flew with that spacecraft as the MarCO mission. At its farthest, Apophis can reach a distance of about 2 astronomical units (One astronomical unit, abbreviated as AU, is the distance from the Sun to Earth.) Apophis will miss the Earth. "We've got to be really careful, because this specific object will have intense public and even political pressure to avoid doing anything to change its orbit," James Bell, a planetary scientist at Arizona State University, said during his presentation. "Size and speed are the main factors, but the nature of the target site is also important. Instead, they noted that Apophis 99942 has a one in 150,000 chance of impacting earth in 2068. Apophis was discovered in 2004. When Apophis made a distant flyby of Earth around March 5, 2021, astronomers took the opportunity to use powerful radar observations to refine the estimate of its orbit around the Sun with extreme precision, enabling them to confidently rule out any impact risk in 2068 and long after. Other impactors have either been much larger, such as the dinosaur-killing asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago and caused the Chicxulub crater, or much smaller. Launching in August 2022 and arriving at the asteroid belt in 2026, NASAs Psyche spacecraft will orbit a world we can barely pinpoint from Earth. We usually send spacecraft out there to visit asteroids and find out about them. That means they have time to draw up a wish list of what they'd like to learn, sort out what can be tackled from Earth and dream up spacecraft designs that could give them a front-row seat to the flyby. And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. This asteroid was just 17 meters wide, and while it didn't result in any casualties, the shock wave from the explosion shattered windows in six different Russian cities and caused 1,500 people to need medical attention. (2022, July 7). But, they note that Apophis has a small chance of hitting Earth sometime in 2068. Apophis is an asteroid that became notorious in 2004 as a potential threat to Earth. As described by NASA, the April 13, 2029 flyby of asteroid Apophis will be one for the record books, because of the proximity and the large size of asteroid Apophis. In addition to flagging some key priorities for the next decade, scientists also discussed some top-level mission concepts that could lay the groundwork for spacecraft to visit Apophis before, during or after its close approach. The Jerusalem Post Customer Service Center can be contacted with any questions or requests: Sign up for The Jerusalem Post Premium Plus for just $5, Upgrade your reading experience with an ad-free environment and exclusive content, Copyright 2023 Jpost Inc. All rights reserved, free of risk from any asteroid impact for the next century, Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission. Related: Huge asteroid Apophis flies by Earth on Friday the 13th in 2029. "If the impact occurs in the ocean, it can generate hazardous tsunamis; on land, a lot more ejected dust is produced," Collins told Space.com in an email. asteroid 2004 MN4 will fly past Earth only 18,600 miles (30,000 km) above the ground. It's similar to how seismic waves traveling through Earth, the moon and Mars have been used to figure out what's beneath their surfaces. Heres how it works. Instead, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for scientists to truly understand asteroids near Earth. In a year that seemingly keeps on giving, perhaps its not so surprising that NASAs newly discovered asteroid called 2020 SW will give earth a not so socially distant pass. Discovery Company. 18+, , https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107903/04/1079030406_213:0:1704:1118_1920x0_80_0_0_60e473e7aa47ebd6920264b97ade8ccb.png.webp, Huge Asteroid Larger Than Big Ben Approaching Earth, Report Says. In the movies, incoming asteroids appear without warning from the depths of space and speed directly toward us until missiles or Bruce Willis heroically destroy them. Sign up for BGR's Newsletter. By the time it was over, 75% of species were gone for good, including all non-avian dinosaurs. WebAsteroid with more force than biggest nuclear bomb to come close to Earth in 2029 Holly Chik, South China Morning Post Posted at Jan 05 2022 04:30 PM | Updated as of Essentially, this is a small region of space influenced by a planet's gravity. (2021, March 25) NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); JPL. And of course, scientists have a full 10 years to plan before the space rock makes its closest approach. EarthSky | Asteroid Apophis to sweep close 7 years from now Relying on optical telescopes and ground-based radar to help characterize every known near-Earth objects orbit to improve long-term hazard assessments, CNEOS computes high-precision orbits in support of NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office. Although Apophis will not hit Earth anytime soon, the asteroid will make a close encounter with our planet on April 13, 2029, when it will pass within just 19,000 miles (31,000 kilometers). But that information would also likely offer clues to how Apophis formed. Weve never seen something that large get that close, said Lance Benner, a principal scientist at JPL. NASA Solar System Exploration; NASA JPL. It was thought initially that, when Apophis was set to fly past Earth in 2029, it could fly through the keyhole. Yes. Its small size, estimated between 10-20 feet wide played a role in our inability to spot it coming. On March 27, 2022, Lucys science team discovered that the smallest of the missions Trojan asteroid targets, Polymele, has a satellite of its own. Its something that almost never happens, and yet we get to witness it in our lifetime, Farnocchia said. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. "But there is no argument, it's all one and the same.". Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004, by astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona. This greatly improved knowledge of its position in 2029 provides more certainty of its future motion, so we can now remove Apophis from the risk list.. Ingrams industry ranking lists are your go-to source for knowing the most influential companies across dozens of business sectors. NY 10036. The longer astronomers track an asteroid, the more clearly defined its orbit becomes. https://astronomy.com/news/2005/08/asteroid-apophis-set-for-a-makeover (opens in new tab), in depth: Osiris-rex. Over millions of years, its orbit was changed primarily by the gravitational influence of large planets like Jupiter so that it now orbits the Sun closer to Earth. Asteroid 99942 Apophis, estimated to measure 340 metres (1,100 ft) across and identified by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as one of the most hazardous asteroids that could impact Earth, will close in on our planet in the spring of 2029.The forecast, issued by the All-Russian Institute for Research of Civil Defence of the Emergencies Ministry of Russia, says that the asteroid will skim past Earth at a distance at which geostationary satellites are placed in orbit (approximately 35,700 km).The event is predicted to take place shortly after Cosmonautics Day 13 April 2029.