Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the sun but are insufficiently massive to be classified as planets. They are also known as planetoids or minor planets. Millions of asteroids range in size from several feet to hundreds of kilometers. The mass of all asteroids combined is less than that of the moon. No matter their size, asteroids can be dangerous. Numerous objects have already collided with the Earth, and many more will do so in the future. This is one reason why scientists are interested in asteroids and wish to learn more about their number, orbits, and physical characteristics. If an asteroid is headed our way, we want to know because the last time an asteroid struck the Earth, no one saw the catastrophe coming, and the world was forever altered. As they had for nearly 170 million years, dinosaurs followed each other and ate lush vegetation. Then, everything abruptly changed. A 6-mile-wide extraterrestrial rock fragment slammed into what would become known as the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.
The shock was comparable to a massive gunshot. After that, the world would never be the same. Experts are scouring the rock album to piece together a nightmare vision of one of the darkest days in the history of our planet. A portion of the damage is evident. The impact crater has a diameter of approximately 110 miles and is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico. The devil is in the geological details at various locations around the globe, such as signs of a massive tsunami off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The impact was so strong and displaced so much water that, within ten hours, a massive wave tore up the coastline. What settled out is a geological mess: ocean sand on what should have been dry land and land plant fossils in areas that should have been in the ocean in a muddled slurry of ancient sediment. These layers mark a violent boundary between the last day of the Cretaceous period and the first day of the Paleocene period in the region where the tsunami struck. The effects were not restricted to the region of impact. The bomb was powerful enough to cause geologic disturbances as far away as Argentina, including earthquakes and landslides that generated their own tsunamis. To survive in the western hemisphere, the heat was far more dangerous than the waves.
The planet was transformed into a fiery world. The majority of dinosaurs and numerous other terrestrial species were unable to escape because they were neither underground nor submerged. Many hours of intense heat may have resulted in the instantaneous death of animals trapped in the open, while the continuous wind ignited arid vegetation in some areas, sparking wildfires. While scientists continue to piece together what transpired in the past, a new threat is emerging that has the potential to alter everything. Apophis, a “Potentially Hazardous Asteroid” (PHA), will pass within the orbits of our geosynchronous satellites on April 13, 2029. This is approximately 23,000 kilometers from the surface of the Earth. And this is quite close. Apophis is enormous. It was discovered in 2005 and its diameter is estimated to be approximately 340 meters. This is approximately the height of the Empire State Building in Manhattan, New York. The asteroid was titled “Apophis” in 2005, after the Greek term for an old Egyptian depiction of evil, a serpent that resides in darkness and frequently tries to swallow the sun-god Ra as he makes his nightly transit through the sky. An asteroid of Apophis’ size passing so close to Earth is a once-in-a-thousand-year occurrence. Apophis will not strike Earth on April 13, 2029, but scientists believe the close flyby will drastically alter its trajectory. It is possible that the Earth’s swing-by will place the asteroid on a trajectory for an Earth-resonant impact in 2060 or 2068.
Due to Apophis’ immense size, its close passage will be so dazzling that approximately 2 billion people will be able to witness it with their own eyes. The asteroid will initially be visible in the southern hemisphere as a bright star blazing from east to west across the sky, passing over Australia, then the Indian Ocean, and finally crossing the equator over Africa. From 2004 visual observations, researchers determined that there was a 2.7% chance that the PHA would strike Earth in 2029. These probabilities were refined with radar observations the following year. Apophis had the highest values on the Torino scale, created by Binzel, who was a member of the team studying the asteroid’s structure, and the Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale, two systems used by astronomers to calculate how dangerous an asteroid is to Earth. In 2006, the likelihood of Apophis colliding with Earth in 2029 was close to zero, but future collisions, especially in 2068, could not be ruled out with complete certainty. According to Davide Farnocchia, an astronomer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) who is researching the asteroid’s trajectory, the path of Apophis after its 2029 flyby will be determined by the effect of Earth’s gravity on the asteroid’s orbit. Farnocchia explained, “If Apophis passed through precise gravitational keyholes, the Earth’s gravity would adjust its orbit just enough—or should I say the wrong amount—to set it on a collision course in a later year.” Astronomers were unable to track Apophis from 2015 to 2019 because it was too close to the sun and therefore obscured by its light output; consequently, no progress was made in ruling out a collision in 2068. Thus, the asteroid appeared determined to live up to its apocalyptic moniker. Despite the fact that evidence gathered over the past two years indicates that Apophis will not pose a threat to Earth for the next century, what if it does?
Scientists have examined models of an Apophis-scale impact on the Earth and determined that the outcome of such an impact is highly unpredictable. If Apophis struck Earth at the typical asteroid impact speed of 45,000 miles per hour, the energy released would be approximately 10 billion joules, or 1 followed by 19 zeros. This is equivalent to the explosive yield of the world’s nuclear arsenal and contains approximately 100,000 times more energy than the Chelyabinsk meteor and one million times more energy than the Hiroshima bombs. The worst-case scenario for an impact of this magnitude would be if it occurred close to a major population center or along a densely populated coastline. Various secondary effects, including intense earth tremors, intense heat radiation, and air shock waves, would have disastrous consequences if this occurred. With eight years of planning remaining before its next visit, Apophis’ investigation has no limits. The close approach of Apophis may offer more than just cosmic visual entertainment. Scientists have enthusiastically proposed missions to rendezvous with the object during or around its 2029 passage. At least one visitor from Earth has been confirmed: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which was launched in 2016 on a mission to collect samples from the asteroid Bennu and return them to Earth. OSIRIS-REx is currently returning to Earth after a successful encounter with Bennu and is scheduled to deliver its priceless samples in September 2023. In spite of this, the spacecraft will continue to orbit the Earth, prompting NASA to accept a $ 200 million mission extension. Now that OSIRIS-REx has met Apophis, it will transform into OSIRIS-APEX (OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer).
A few months after its close encounter with Earth, OSIRIS-APEX will approach Apophis and conduct preliminary reconnaissance before entering orbit around the asteroid in August 2029. Scientists will map the planet’s surface to determine if Apophis’ brief descent into our planet’s gravitational pull caused any significant changes. OSIRIS-APEX is not the only mission to visit Apophis, nor the only mission concerned with planetary defense. Apophis currently poses no immediate threat to Earth. In 2029, however, it will briefly fire a warning shot as it flies through our skies, closely followed by at least one curious observer. We must wait and see what the coming years will bring. We hope Apophis alters its course and bypasses the Earth. What are your thoughts? Will Apophis pass without harming our planet, or is the end of the world on the horizon?
FAQ
Will Apophis hit the Earth in 2029?
The possibility that Apophis, an asteroid with a diameter of about 340 meters, may strike Earth in 2029 is not proven. Apophis was first discovered in 2004 and caused some anxiety because of how close it was to Earth. Subsequent sightings and improved estimates by astronomers, however, suggest that the asteroid will fly by in 2029 at a safe distance with no immediate fear of collision. Despite this, astronomers are still keeping a careful eye on Apophis since any interactions with gravity during the pass could affect its trajectory.
Will Apophis hit Earth in 2030?
Apophis is an asteroid that has a diameter of about 340 meters. There is no reliable scientific evidence or forecast that this asteroid will impact Earth in 2030. Astronomers’ continuing observations and computations add to our understanding of the asteroid’s journey.
Will Apophis hit Earth in 2036?
Apophis is an asteroid that has a diameter of around 340 meters. There is no reliable scientific proof or forecast that the asteroid and Earth will collide in 2036. Since its discovery in 2004, Apophis’s course has been closely observed, and further observations have ruled out any immediate threat of impact during its forthcoming close approaches. Astronomers generally agree that Apophis will pass Earth safely, with the closest approach predicted for 2029.
What happens if Apophis hits Earth?
Significant and possibly disastrous effects would result from an Apophis collision with Earth. Approximately 340 meters in diameter, the impact energy would be enormous and cause extensive destruction. The precise results would vary depending on a number of variables, including the asteroid’s composition, impact site and angle, and other reasons. Massive explosions, fires, and the discharge of energy equal to several nuclear explosions might result from a direct hit. The heat and ensuing shockwaves would set off massive fires, tsunamis, and earthquakes, possibly resulting in fatalities and significant damage across a vast area. Long-term consequences on the environment might include a “nuclear winter” situation, in which particles of dust and debris released into space would obstruct sunlight and alter the patterns of the world’s climate. To prevent such possible hazards, considerable efforts are now underway to monitor and evaluate the trajectories of near-Earth objects such as Apophis, underscoring the significance of continuous space surveillance and planetary defense operations.
How fast do asteroids Apophis move?
Depending on their orbital properties and distance from the Sun, asteroids—including Apophis—can move at different speeds. Apophis orbits the Sun at an average speed of about 30 kilometers per second (18.64 miles per second), similar to numerous other near-Earth objects. Compared to the majority of artificial things, this velocity is noticeably quicker. Because the Sun’s gravitational pull shapes and controls the orbits of asteroids, it causes them to travel at great speeds. Specifically, Apophis travels around the Sun in an elliptical orbit, changing speed as it goes. Apophis’s exact speed can be determined by taking into account its distance from the Sun at any particular moment during its orbit. Tracking these speeds is essential for forecasting asteroidal travel routes and evaluating the likelihood of asteroidal collisions with Earth.
What is the orbit path of Apophis?
Apophis has an elliptical orbit around the Sun, and at some parts of its orbital cycle, it is quite close to Earth. Since its discovery in 2004, Apophis has been the subject of intense scrutiny because to initial fears regarding the possibility of an impact. Its orbit brings it from inside Venus’s orbit when it is closest to the Sun to slightly outside Mars’ orbit when it is furthest from the Sun. The periodic close proximity to Earth is the main subject of interest. On April 13, 2029, Apophis is predicted to pass inside the geostationary satellite belt, about 31,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) from Earth’s surface, making it the most significant encounter to date. The present scientific agreement suggests that there is little chance of effect during this contact, even with such a close approach. Continued monitoring and improvements to orbital computations are essential to precisely forecast Apophis’s future course and evaluate any possible long-term hazards related to its journey.
Does Apophis orbit the Sun?
Yes, Apophis does really orbit the Sun. Because of the gravitational pull of the Sun, Apophis orbits it like all other celestial bodies in our solar system. The orbit of Apophis is categorized as elliptical, which means that it resembles an extended circle. Depending on its speed, distance from the Sun, and gravitational interactions with other celestial bodies, the asteroid takes a specific amount of time to complete one circuit around the Sun. Because of its elliptical orbit, Apophis travels in a recurrent and predictable pattern, going from a location near the Sun to one that is farther away and back again. To improve forecasts, evaluate any hazards, and guarantee a thorough knowledge of Apophis and other near-Earth objects’ motions inside our solar system, scientists keep a careful eye on their orbital dynamics.
What is the trajectory of Apophis?
Apophis travels through our solar system in the form of an extended oval, completing an elliptical orbit around the Sun. This near-Earth asteroid was found in 2004 and moves along a track that passes through the orbits of Venus, the second planet from the Sun, and Mars, the fourth planet. Apophis’s close approach to Earth is of great significance. One of the most important encounters is expected to take place on April 13, 2029, when the asteroid is expected to pass extraordinarily close to our planet. Though initial worries about an impact were warranted, current scientific evaluations show that Apophis is not a threat during this near encounter. However, to improve our comprehension of Apophis’ trajectory and guarantee precise projections regarding its future routes within the solar system, ongoing observation and correct computations are necessary.
How long does it take Apophis to orbit the sun?
Apophis’s orbit around the Sun takes around 324 days, or just under a year, to complete. When compared to the orbital timescales of several other solar system entities, this orbital period is rather short. Because Apophis’ orbit is not a complete circle but rather an extended one, it is categorized as elliptical. The asteroid travels from within Venus’s orbit—the second planet from the Sun—to just outside Mars’ orbit, the fourth planet. Because of its comparatively short orbital period and unique course, Apophis periodically makes close encounters to Earth, drawing the attention and investigation of astronomers and scientists studying near-Earth objects.
