On April 13, 2029, a giant asteroid is expected to pass very close to Earth. Scientists have named the asteroid "Apophis" after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos and destruction. This asteroid is about 340 meters wide and has the potential to cause tremendous damage if it were to hit the Earth.
What is Apophis?
Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid that was discovered in 2004. It orbits the sun every 323 days and has a very eccentric orbit that brings it close to the Earth's orbit. Initially, scientists thought that there was a small chance that Apophis could hit the Earth in 2029. However, further observations showed that it will miss the Earth by a distance of about 19,000 miles (31,000 km).
Why is Apophis a Concern?
While Apophis is not expected to hit Earth in 2029, there is a chance that it could hit the Earth in the future. According to NASA, there is a small probability that Apophis will hit the Earth on its next close approach in 2036. The probability of impact is currently estimated to be about 1 in 150,000.
Even if Apophis doesn't hit the Earth in 2036, it is still a concern because it is a potentially hazardous asteroid. It is classified as a "PHA" or Potentially Hazardous Asteroid because of its size and orbit. If it were to hit the Earth, it could cause significant damage.
What Would Happen if Apophis Hit the Earth?
If Apophis were to hit the Earth, it would cause a tremendous amount of damage. The impact would release energy equivalent to about 880 million tons of TNT, or about 65,000 times the energy of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. The impact would create a crater several miles wide and cause significant seismic activity.
Depending on where the asteroid hit the Earth, it could also cause a tsunami if it hit the ocean. The tsunami could cause additional damage along the coastlines.
Can We Stop Apophis?
There are currently no plans to try to stop Apophis from hitting the Earth. However, NASA is monitoring the asteroid and studying its orbit to better understand its potential impact. If it were determined that Apophis had a high probability of hitting the Earth, there are several options that could be considered to try to deflect the asteroid.
One option would be to use a spacecraft to fly by the asteroid and use its gravitational pull to change the asteroid's orbit. Another option would be to use a spacecraft to collide with the asteroid and change its momentum. These options would require significant planning and resources, but they could potentially save the Earth from a catastrophic impact.
Conclusion
While Apophis is not expected to hit the Earth in 2029, it is still a potentially hazardous asteroid that could cause significant damage if it were to hit the Earth in the future. Scientists are closely monitoring the asteroid and studying its orbit to better understand its potential impact. If it were determined that Apophis had a high probability of hitting the Earth, there are several options that could be considered to try to deflect the asteroid.