All Clear for Apophis: No Threat to Earth in Our Lifetime!
Asteroid Apophis made headlines a while back because of its close pass to Earth. Well, there’s good news! Scientists have confirmed that Apophis won’t hit Earth anytime in the next 100 years.
Here’s the story in a nutshell:
- Once a concern: Back in 2004, when Apophis was first discovered, there was a small chance it could hit Earth in 2029. This caused some worry.
- Better observations, better predictions: Thankfully, scientists kept observing Apophis and gathering more data. This allowed them to refine their calculations and predict its future path much more accurately.
- The good news: As of today, March 6, 2024, experts are confident that Apophis will miss Earth by a safe distance in its upcoming close approaches in 2029 and 2036. In fact, it won’t pose any threat to our planet for the entire next century!
So, you can rest assured! While it’s important for scientists to track near-Earth objects like Apophis, this particular asteroid is not a danger to us in the foreseeable future.
Apophis asteroid
1. What is the Apophis asteroid?
Apophis is a large asteroid that orbits the Sun, and it sometimes comes close to Earth.
2. Was there a danger of Apophis hitting Earth?
Back in 2004, when Apophis was first discovered, there was a small chance it could hit Earth in 2029. However, this is no longer a concern.
3. Why isn’t Apophis a threat anymore?
Scientists have been observing Apophis closely and gathering more data. This has allowed them to make much more accurate predictions about its future path, and they are confident it will miss Earth by a safe distance in its upcoming close approaches.
4. When will Apophis be closest to Earth?
Apophis will have close approaches to Earth in 2029 and 2036, but it will pass by safely on both occasions.
5. Should we be worried about asteroids?
Scientists are always monitoring near-Earth objects like Apophis, but it’s important to remember that most asteroids pose no threat to us.
6. What happens if an asteroid does hit Earth?
The impact of an asteroid on Earth would depend on its size and where it hits. However, large impacts are extremely rare, and scientists are working on ways to deflect asteroids if they ever pose a serious threat.