Will Asteroid 99942 Apophis Hit Earth? NASA Clears the Air
Asteroid Apophis won't hit Earth in 2029, confirms NASA. The massive space rock will pass safely, closer than satellites, offering a rare skywatching event.
Asteroid 99942 Apophis will safely pass Earth on April 13, 2029—closer than some satellites—offering a rare view visible to the naked eye.
Once dubbed the “God of Chaos,” asteroid 99942 Apophis sparked global concern when early predictions in 2004 suggested a potential Earth impact in 2029. However, two decades of rigorous observations have now confirmed: Apophis will not hit Earth—now or in the foreseeable future.
What’s the Big Deal About Apophis?
Apophis, a near-Earth asteroid measuring roughly 340 meters in diameter, caused alarm when initial models showed a 2.7% chance of impact on April 13, 2029. The possibility briefly pushed it to Level 4 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale—the highest ever recorded at the time.
Nicknamed after the Egyptian deity of chaos, the asteroid captured public imagination and stirred fears of catastrophic consequences. But extensive data from radar models and telescopic tracking quickly shifted the narrative.
What NASA and Scientists Now Confirm
By 2006, scientists had definitively ruled out any risk of a 2029 collision. Further analysis eliminated future impact concerns in 2036 and even distant scenarios in 2068 that considered the Yarkovsky effect—a subtle force that can alter an asteroid’s path due to sunlight.
NASA and the European Space Agency have since removed Apophis from their risk registers. Current projections ensure Earth’s safety for at least the next 100 years.
A Spectacular Flyby in 2029
Despite the absence of danger, Apophis will make headlines again on April 13, 2029, as it passes just 32,000 km from Earth—closer than many satellites. Visible to the naked eye across large parts of the globe, this flyby will be a rare, once-in-a-lifetime event for astronomers and skywatchers alike.
NASA and international space agencies are preparing to observe the asteroid closely during this historic moment, with plans to redirect spacecraft and gather high-resolution data.
What If Apophis Did Hit Earth?
Although there’s no threat, scientists have modeled hypothetical scenarios. If an object the size of Apophis were to strike, it could release energy equivalent to over 1,000 megatons of TNT—hundreds of times more powerful than any nuclear bomb. A land strike would obliterate a city-sized region, while an ocean impact could trigger devastating tsunamis.
Conclusion
While Apophis once symbolized a nightmare scenario, it now offers a valuable scientific opportunity. Its 2029 flyby will be remembered not as a brush with disaster but as a major milestone in planetary defense and asteroid research.
So, will asteroid Apophis hit Earth? The answer is a clear and confident no—but the story of how we came to that conclusion shows just how far space science has come.
