The Apophis asteroid will not collide with Earth in April 2029, said Sergey Yazev, a professor at Irkutsk State University. The object will pass at a distance of 32 thousand kilometers from our planet's surface. For comparison: the orbits of some geostationary satellites are higher than this point – at 40 thousand kilometers. This makes the upcoming event particularly unique.
Yazev explained that Apophis's orbit constantly changes under the influence of Earth's gravity with each close approach. Although in March 2021, NASA scientists calculated that there is no risk of collision in the next 100 years, predicting the trajectory for a longer period is difficult. According to the astronomer, due to increasing uncertainty, it is quite possible that Apophis will again come dangerously close to our planet in the next century.
What is known about Apophis
The Apophis asteroid was discovered in 2004 and named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness and destruction. Its diameter is about 350–400 meters. Initial calculations caused alarm: scientists allowed for the possibility of a collision with Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068. However, refined data ruled out the possibility of an impact in the foreseeable future.
In April 2029, the asteroid will be visible to the naked eye in the night sky over Europe, Africa, and Asia. Scientists plan to use this event to study the influence of Earth's gravity on the celestial body's trajectory and rotation. According to Sergey Yazev, the close approach poses no threat but provides a unique opportunity for scientific observations.
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