Asteroid Apophis to Pass Within 20,000 Miles of Earth in 2029, NASA Says

A large asteroid named Apophis is set to pass approximately 20,000 miles from Earth's surface on April 13, 2029, according to NASA. This distance is closer than the orbit of many satellites, but scientists state there is no risk of the asteroid impacting Earth.

Apophis is classified as potentially hazardous and consists of material that did not form part of a planet or moon. When discovered in 2004, initial observations suggested possible impacts with Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068, NASA reported. Astronomers have since used optical telescopes and ground-based radar to refine understanding of its orbit.

These efforts have ruled out any collision risk for the upcoming pass.

Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004, by astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona. The team observed the asteroid for two days before technical and weather issues interrupted the work.

In December 2004, another group of astronomers in Australia resumed observations, providing additional data, NASA said. Observatories worldwide and in space will monitor the 2029 approach to gather information on the asteroid's physical properties. The event will allow scientists to study how Earth's gravity affects Apophis, including pulling, twisting, stretching, and squeezing during the close encounter.

NASA noted that such effects occur only in very close passes.

NASA has redirected its OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to study Apophis after the 2029 flyby. The spacecraft, which collected a sample from asteroid Bennu and returned it to Earth in September 2023, has been renamed OSIRIS-APophis EXplorer, or OSIRIS-APEX. It is now en route to rendezvous with the asteroid.

The European Space Agency is also sending a spacecraft to examine Apophis. During the 2029 event, the asteroid is expected to be visible to the naked eye in the Eastern Hemisphere, weather permitting. NASA described the close approach as an opportunity to enhance knowledge of such objects.