Asteroid Apophis to Fly Past Earth in 2029: Will it get into a fatal collision ?
Scientists have known for more than two decades that asteroid 99942 Apophis will make an exceptionally close flyby of Earth on April 13, 2029. Although the 370-metre-wide asteroid will pass just 32,000 kilometres above Earth's surface—closer than many geostationary satellites—extensive studies confirm it poses no collision risk, not only in 2029 but for at least the next 100 years. As Apophis approaches Earth, the planet's powerful gravity is expected to slow the asteroid and may alter its orbit, trigger "asteroid quakes," shift surface material, or even cause landslides. These changes could expose fresh layers, giving scientists a rare opportunity to study the asteroid's internal structure and composition. A new study, published in Planetary Science by researchers led by Giulia Schettino and Alessandro Rossi, raises another possibility: Apophis could encounter human-made space debris orbiting Earth. While the likelihood is low, even a small collision could leav...
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