On April 13th, 2029 an absolutely gigantic asteroid known as "Apophis" will come very close to our planet. In fact, we are being told that Apophis will actually be ten times closer than the Moon as it zips past the Earth. The good news is that scientists are assuring us that there is zero chance that this enormous space rock will hit us. The bad news is that we cannot see Apophis right now, and if there is even the slightest change in the projected trajectory it could end up slamming into our planet. Needless to say, if Apophis actually hits us it would be an absolutely cataclysmic disaster.
For years, I did not think much about Apophis because I simply trusted what the "experts" were telling us. For example, NASA is unequivocally stating that "there is no risk of Apophis impacting our planet for at least a century"...
Asteroid 99942 Apophis is a near-Earth object (NEO) estimated to be about 1,100 feet (335 meters) across.
When it was discovered in 2004, Apophis was identified as one of the most hazardous asteroids that could impact Earth. But that impact assessment changed after astronomers tracked Apophis, and its orbit became better determined.
A radar observation campaign in March 2021, combined with precise orbit analysis, allowed astronomers to conclude that there is no risk of Apophis impacting our planet for at least a century.
That seems quite clear.
NASA is promising us that we do not have to worry about this giant space rock at all.
A planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is telling us the exact same thing...
"Apophis is in the category of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) -- asteroids with orbits that bring them very close to Earth now and for centuries in the future," said Richard Binzel, a planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "What makes Apophis the poster child for potentially hazardous asteroids is that it will make the closest known approach to Earth of any large asteroid this decade.
"But the three most important things about Apophis are: Apophis will miss the Earth. Apophis will miss the Earth. Apophis will miss the Earth," he told Space.com via email.
If our top experts are this confident, why are some people out there still concerned about Apophis?
Well, it turns out that there are several reasons.
First of all, this giant space rock is going to come extremely close to our planet.
In fact, we are being told that it will be "less than one-tenth the distance to the Moon" as it flies by us...
It will be a very close pass. Apophis will come within about 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) of Earth -- less than one-tenth the distance to the Moon. The asteroid will fly below the altitude of some satellites, but should arrive on a trajectory that makes any collision highly unlikely.
In astronomical terms, that is a really, really close shave. In all of human history, we have never had a giant space rock come so close to us.
Secondly, we cannot actually see Apophis right now.
We have not been able to see Apophis since the middle of 2021 and we will not be able to see it again until 2027...
There is another problem. "Apophis is in the daytime sky and unobservable from mid-2021 to 2027," Paul Wiegert, meaning any change in its trajectory will go unseen until just two years before April 12, 2029. However, he adds that a single observation during 2027 would be necessary to determine whether the asteroid threatened "an impending Earth impact."
If there is the slightest change in the trajectory of Apophis, it could hit us.
And we will not know if the trajectory of Apophis has changed until we are able to view it in 2027.
For the moment, our scientists are assuming that the trajectory of Apophis has not been altered at all, and that is what they are basing their optimistic forecasts on.
Thirdly, everyone agrees that Earth's gravitational pull will have an impact on Apophis.
One way that our planet's gravity will affect Apophis is by causing small tremors...
The researchers discovered that two physical processes -- triggered by Earth's gravitational tugs -- will likely sculpt Apophis' surface during its 2029 encounter. One is tremors that will probably begin an hour before Apophis reaches its closest point to Earth and continue for a short while after.
The tremors' strength is difficult to estimate, Ballouz said. However, "Apophis' gravity is about 250,000 times smaller than Earth's," he added. "So, we think that events of much smaller magnitude could plausibly shake things up on its surface."
Could those tremors alter the trajectory of Apophis enough for it to hit our planet?
I don't know.
We are also being told that the gravity of our planet could change how Apophis is "tumbling" through the sky...