Now Reading: Asteroid Apophis to pass 32,000 km from Earth in 2029
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Asteroid Apophis to pass 32,000 km from Earth in 2029
Asteroid Apophis, roughly 340 metres across, will pass within 32,000 km of Earth on 13 April 2029, closer than geostationary satellites. Nasa says the flyby will be visible to the naked eye…
The Story in Brief
Asteroid Apophis, roughly 340 metres across, will pass within 32,000 km of Earth on 13 April 2029, closer than geostationary satellites. Nasa says the flyby will be visible to the naked eye across Europe, Africa and Asia. An approach this close by an object of this size happens only once every 7,500 years, and Apophis poses no danger for at least a century.
The encounter offers a rare natural experiment. Earth’s gravity will likely reshape the asteroid, altering its spin and triggering surface shifts. Nasa’s OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will arrive shortly after to study the changes. The European Space Agency’s Ramses mission will also accompany the flyby.
The Indian Opinion
The return of Apophis from cosmic bogeyman to natural laboratory is a welcome correction to doomsday headlines. While the 2029 approach is unprecedented, calling it 'dangerously close' misleads readers into panic. The real story is science: tidal forces and surface reshuffling mimic planetary formation. India, with its growing space ambitions, should consider contributing ground-based radar observations. Will ISRO join the global coordination network for this once-in-7,500-year event?
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
