Space Science & Asteroids

Could the God of Chaos Asteroid Still Strike Earth In 2029

Why do some believe there’s still a chance of Apophis striking Earth in 2029? This overlooked scenario would mean there’s still a chance of an impact.

Image created by author using Microsoft 365 Designer

Is Apophis Still A Danger To Earth?

A potentially hazardous asteroid with some notoriety is again the subject of discussion and debate as scientists consider a new possibility about it and our future. Once believed to hit Earth in 2029, Apophis made big news when scientists announced it would impact on Friday, April 13th, 2029.

What are the odds of such a catastrophic collision? Typically, about one in a billion. But thanks to recent simulations, there’s a possibility that can’t be ruled out for three years.

Apophis (God of Chaos)

Apophis is a space rock measuring approximately 1,100 feet across. This speeding menace is about the size of the Eiffel Tower. It’s not large enough to be classified as a planet killer but could easily wipe out a large city such as New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. Why Apophis continues to worry the scientific community is easy to understand.

Apophis’s close Earth flyby is going to be one for the books. At 1,100 feet across and traveling thousands of miles per hour, there is only a margin of error of about 18,000 feet. It seems remote, but there are outside influences to consider.

From where Apophis is currently, there exists the possibility that it could be influenced by another smaller object impacting it, such as the effect of the DART mission in 2022. A city destroyer asteroid that’s already going to be dangerously close to Earth could be nudged into a much closer trajectory, possibly as much as nudging it to a direct hit. Apophis could be nudged in a different direction as well, but this overlooked scenario is worth examining.

What An Apophis Impact Would Be Like

A bullet traveling a few thousand feet per second can do some damage. Imagine what something 1,100 feet across, traveling 20 to 30 thousand miles per hour, can do. The damage is hitherto undreamt of.

Should an asteroid of Apophis’s size and velocity ever strike Earth, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. It would potentially kill millions of people if it struck a major population center. The damage would be felt for a few hundred miles from ground zero. Then there would be fallout.

The idea of an asteroid of any size striking Earth has been depicted in movies. One thing that the movies got right, other than the timelines of an asteroid and the tech to stop one, is that the damage to our world would be on a biblical scale. Thankfully, Apophis hitting Earth is still the ultimate longshot, as long as nothing interferes with its current trajectory.

Image made by author using Microsoft 365 Designer

Thanks for reading, and remember, don’t look up!

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