‘Endangered Threat’: Asteroid Apophis is no threat to Earth for 100 years, says Nasa

Apophis, which has been considered one of the most dangerous asteroids, will not affect Earth for at least another 100 years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) said Friday. “Studies show that the asteroid 99942 Apophis is in no danger of affecting the Earth for at least another century. First identified in 2004, new data has better explained the orbit of Apophis, sending astronauts calmly, ”said Nasa’s Near Earth Studies Center (CNEOS).

It was previously thought that the Asteroid Apophis, named after the Egyptian god of chaos would be near Earth in 2029 and 2036. It was also expected that there would be some chance of invading Earth in 2068. “The impact of 2068 in the realm of potentiality is no longer there, and our calculations do not show risk of impact for at least the next 100 years,” Davide Farnocchia, a researcher at CNEOS, said in a statement.

Method used by CNEOS for risk assessment

Apophis passed within 10 million miles of Earth on March 5 when astronauts used radar sightings to determine the orbit of the asteroid around the sun. They used the California-based Deep Space Network’s 70-meter (230-foot) Goldstone Network radio antenna to take a closer look at Apophis. Farnocchia said the process removed any uncertainty for the asteroid’s orbit from “hundreds of kilometers, to just a few kilometers.” The center also maintains a danger list by monitoring asteroids with orbits that they bring near the Earth.

Apophis appeared in 2029

Even if the threat from Apophis has been averted for the next century, the asteroid will enter the Earth’s gravitational field at the time of flight on April 13, 2029, when it is expected to pass within 20,000 miles of the surface of the Earth. The asteroid is then visible in the eastern hemisphere with the naked eye and allows astronomers to examine it closely.