On the unlucky day of Friday the 13th, - Deadly space rock "Apophis" nears Earth
By 2029, on the specific day of April 13th, an astonishing event will occur - the massive asteroid, Apophis, is predicted to approach our planet more incredibly close. Recent estimates propose that this 350-meter-sized celestial body, also known as a potential "killer asteroid," will zip past our planet at a painfully short range. It's not even at the geostationary orbit level, hovering just around 31,000 kilometers after calculations. In astronomical terms, that's essentially blink-any-eye distance!
Researchers' Investigations in Progress
The research community can't seem to get enough of this space colossus. Instead of prepping for evacuations, they're more intent on examining it closely. The specialists from the University of Würzburg have designed ideas for missions executed by small satellites to study Apophis. They'd have to be sent out in time to observe the beast up close, figuring out its appearance, trajectory alterations, and, maybe, preventing a potential collision.
For years, coming up with mitigation strategies against an incoming killer asteroid has been ongoing among scholars globally.
Implications: An Impact Could Be Catastrophic
This is an exceptionally rare chance, as Apophis is deemed a potential Earth interloper and will get even closer to us on its travel within our solar system. Could it one day be too close? Prof. Jonathan Männel, from the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, shared his vision with science magazine Scinnex: "The impact crater would be likely to be several kilometers in diameter, with the force of the impact capable of annihilating a region the size of Central Europe."
For many years, astronomers have dreaded the possibility of Apophis colliding with Earth.
Flybys are Highly Unpredictable
Space engineer Rainer Kresken of the European Space Agency ESA sheds some doubt on the matter: "A "close-brush" encounter like this is usually chaotic. There's an imaginary keyhole. If Apophis somehow enters this region in 2029, a collision with Earth becomes imminent. While this is unlikely, it's still possible. Any minor diversion in its trajectory can result in drastic consequences."
Based on NASA's calculations, a collision isn't projected to occur within the next century. However, who can guarantee anything for certain?
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Source: symclub.org
