This huge asteroid, 340 meters wide and peanut-shaped, is expected to pass closer to Earth than some satellites. The proximity has caused experts to revise forecasts about a possible collision. Scientists had also earlier said Apophis would be closest to Earth on April 13, 2029.
However, the scientific community is still divided over whether Apophis will hit Earth. Currently, it is not in a collision course, but a new paper published by The Planetary Science Journal says even a small object as tiny as two feet in diameter might change its course. Wiegert and his co-author Benjamin Hyatt examined the chances of Apophis hitting any other object and getting deflected toward Earth.
From these data, they estimate that a body only 0.6 meters in width merely could deflect the asteroid onto an Earth-intersecting orbit at some future date. On the other hand, if Apophis is to strike the Earth in 2029, a body approximately 3.4 meters in size will be needed.
Fortunately, scientists estimate that the rate is about 2.7 percent, which is highly improbable. As Paul Wiegert put it, “The odds of an unseen small asteroid deflecting Apophis enough to direct it into a collision with Earth in 2029 are approximately 10-8. Given that only 5 percent of such impulses are in the correct direction to generate an Earth impact, the overall probability of a small impact directing Apophis into a collision with the Earth is less than one in two billion.”
To this very plausible scenario, NASA has also spoken up after their probing of the asteroid last year. They said, “The intrigue of Apophis is its exceptionally close approach to our planet on April 13, 2029.”
“Although Apophis will not hit Earth during this encounter or in the foreseeable future, the pass in 2029 will bring the asteroid within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of the surface – closer than some satellites, and close enough that it could be visible to the naked eye in the Eastern Hemisphere.”
The name “Apophis” is taken from the ancient Greek name of the Egyptian deity “Apep,” also spelled “Apepi” or “Aapep.” He was considered a god who personified chaos and was an enemy of light and order in the universe. Apep was associated with earthquakes, thunder, darkness, storms, and death and was considered the most powerful force of evil in Egyptian theology.
In ancient Egyptian art, the serpent Apophis was often depicted as a huge snake. He was utterly opposite to the sun god Ra and was in constant fight with him at night. Of course, Apophis could never be utterly destroyed in such a battle.
The asteroid was named “Apophis” because, upon its discovery back in 2004, astronomers initially estimated that it had a disturbingly high probability-about 2.7 percent of colliding with Earth during a close approach on April 13, 2029; this could be highly destructive to Earth’s surface, given the estimated diameter of the asteroid at over 1,100 feet.
However, subsequent studies have demonstrated that the chances of Apophis impacting Earth either during its 2029 close approach or at its next close approach in 2036 are, for practical purposes, nearly non-existent. This re-evaluation has eased concerns that were initially raised, although the close passage of this asteroid will still be a significant event.
