Asteroid Apophis to Make Close Earth Approach in 2029 Without Risk of Impact
Despite no longer being a collision threat, Apophis remains a point of interest due to its close approach, providing astronomers with a rare opportunity to study such a large asteroid up close.
On April 13, 2029, the near-Earth asteroid Apophis is set to pass within approximately 32,000 kilometers of Earth—closer than some geostationary satellites. This encounter with the 375-meter wide asteroid, known as the God of Chaos, will be visible to the naked eye across much of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Originally discovered in 2004, initial trajectory calculations suggested a possible Earth impact in 2029, 2036, or 2068, with a significant risk of catastrophic consequences. However, further observations have since refined Apophis’s orbit, effectively ruling out the possibility of an impact.
Despite no longer being a collision threat, Apophis remains a point of interest due to its close approach, providing astronomers with a rare opportunity to study such a large asteroid up close. The event will allow for detailed examination of an S-type asteroid, predominantly composed of silicate minerals with metal inclusions.
The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to dispatch small probes to observe the asteroid during its flyby, while NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX mission, a reassignment of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, is set to rendezvous with Apophis shortly after its close approach. This mission aims to study the structural changes the asteroid undergoes due to Earth’s gravitational forces, providing valuable insights into its future orbit and any potential risks.
This near encounter will be a significant event for both professional astronomers and the public, offering a unique glimpse of a celestial object that once posed a significant threat to Earth.