Giant asteroid Apophis could still be colliding with Earth: scientists discovered (photo)

The giant asteroid Apophis, which is expected to pass by Earth in 2029, could still fall to our planet, although there is a small chance. Scientists believe that the asteroid’s flight path could be altered by another rock during the collision. The possibility of an asteroid the size of the Eiffel Tower hitting our planet still cannot be ruled out for at least another 3 years. The results of the study were published in The Planetary Science Journal, writes Live Science.

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The Apophis asteroid is a potentially dangerous asteroid, measuring around 340 meters across and almost the same size as the Eiffel Tower (300 meters high). The asteroid’s size does not allow it to be considered a so-called “planet killer”, but if it were to hit Earth, it could destroy a large metropolis and cause significant climate change worldwide. The asteroid was first discovered 20 years ago and is named after the ancient Egyptian god of disorder and destruction, Apophis (his name sounds similar to Apophis in ancient Greek). As a result, the asteroid itself has earned the nickname “God of Chaos”.

Initially, astronomers believed that Apophis would be so close to our planet that it could collide with Earth in April 2029. Later observations and calculations showed that the asteroid should still fly within about 32,000 km of Earth and not cause any damage to the planet, but this distance is still close enough to affect satellites orbiting Earth in very high orbits.

It is known that such asteroids can collide with other space rocks, causing their flight paths to change. It was previously assumed that Apophis could also change its orbit and still fall to Earth.

The authors of the new study calculated the probability of such an event and found that it could happen. The scientists created simulations to estimate the probability of an unknown asteroid hitting Apophis within the next 5 years.

The results showed that the probability of an unknown asteroid hitting Apophis and changing its direction of flight is less than one in a million. The probability of such an event causing Apophis to significantly change its course, meaning it comes much closer to Earth, is less than one in a billion. In this case, it is extremely unlikely that Apophis would collide with Earth.

At the same time, scientists believe that a collision of two space rocks could lead to the “God of Chaos” flying even further away from our planet.

We will have to wait another 3 years to find out for sure whether the flight path of the Apophis asteroid has changed. The fact is that it is now impossible to observe the asteroid because it is too close to the Sun. According to scientists, the asteroid will enter the field of view in 2027, and by 2029 it will be possible to more accurately calculate the direction of its movement and how it may change. In addition, in 5 years it will be possible to find out whether there is still a small probability that a giant rock will hit the Earth.

Apophis flew by Earth relatively close in 2021, and if it passes by in 2029, the rock’s next particularly close passes by Earth would occur in 2051, 2066, and 2080. Preliminary modeling so far suggests that the giant space rock, while potentially dangerous, does not pose a threat to our planet until at least the end of the 21st century.

Scientists will learn about the asteroid’s composition, properties, and future fate of Apophis after it is studied by the OSIRIS APEX spacecraft in 2029.

Moreover Focus He wrote that NASA could send several probes, which are expected to join another mission to study the asteroid Apophis before 2029.

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