Planet-destroying asteroid Apophis is hurtling towards Earth and will put NASA’s Dart to the test

Posted on January 30, 2023Comments Off on Planet-destroying asteroid Apophis is hurtling towards Earth and will put NASA’s Dart to the test

Planet-destroying asteroid Apophis is hurtling towards Earth and will put NASA’s Dart to the test

Ayaan Paul Jan 27, 2023 | 14:08

The likelihood of an asteroid hitting Earth in the next hundred years is a topic of much debate among scientists. While it is difficult to predict with certainty as to when and where an asteroid will hit, there is one particularly fearsome asteroid which has had the scientists go jittery.

Near-Earth Objects

One important factor to consider is the number of known asteroids that are on a collision course with Earth. According to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), there are currently 1,913 known asteroids that have been classified as “potentially hazardous” due to their proximity to Earth and their size. Of these, approximately 20% are considered to have a significant likelihood of hitting Earth in the next hundred years.

Another important factor to consider is the rate at which asteroids are discovered. According to CNEOS, the number of known asteroids has been increasing at a steady rate over the past few decades, with the majority of discoveries being made by automated sky surveys. This suggests that the likelihood of an asteroid hitting Earth in the next hundred years may be higher than previously thought, as more asteroids are being detected.

The most formidable example of an asteroid that has a significant likelihood of hitting Earth in the next hundred years is asteroid Apophis.

Chaos incarnate

Named after the Egyptian deity that is “chaos incarnate”, the asteroid, which is estimated to be around 1,000 feet in diameter, was first discovered in 2004 and is considered to be a “potentially hazardous asteroid.” According to CNEOS, Apophis has a 1 in 150,000 chance of hitting Earth in the year 2068.

Artist’s rendition of Apophis in Rick Riordan’s The Kane Chronicles. Photo: Riordan Wikia

First discovered in 2004 by astronomers at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, the asteroid has a diameter of approximately 340 metres, making it one of the largest near-Earth asteroids that has been discovered to date.

Apophis size-comparison chart. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Apophis has a very unusual orbit that brings it incredibly close to the Earth, with a minimum distance of just 31,300 kilometres (19,460 miles) during its next flyby in 2029. This is roughly a tenth of the distance between the Earth and the Moon, and it is close enough to be visible to the naked eye.

To keep reading this article, please click the link below:

https://www.dailyo.in/news/planet-destroying-asteroid-apophis-is-hurtling-towards-earth-and-will-put-nasas-dart-to-test-38720