In 2004 NASA scientists warned that an asteroid bigger than two football fields could smash into Earth in 2029. Dubbed Apophis, the asteroid discovered June 19, 2004 by R. A. Tucker, D. J. Tholen and F. Bernardi at Kitt Peak is approximately 370 metres (1,210 ft) across and will wipe out all human civilisation on Earth if it hits us.
Soon after the initial scare, after new observations and lots of number-crunching, astronomers breathed a sigh of relief and announced Apophis will not be a planet-killer in 2029.
In come the Russians
Russian scientists estimate Apophis will collide with Earth on April 13, 2036.
In 2029, April 13, Apophis will fly very close to Earth, within five Earth radii, and that will be quite an event in itself. If Apophis goes through what we call a gravitational keyhole during that close Earth encounter it will be nudged just right so that it will swing back and smash Earth on April 13, 2036.
Russian scientists predict Apophis will travel through a gravitational keyhole as it passes Earth in 2029. The keyhole they mention is a precise region in space, only slightly larger than the asteroid itself, in which the effect of Earth’s gravity could tweak Apophis’ path.
There is a 1-in-250,000 chance that Apophis will destroy Earth in 2036.
NASA last calculated an impact assessment in 2016. Do you wonder why no more recent assessments have been made?
Apophis is not the only known asteroid that has a probability of smashing into Earth in the near future. There are 16 potential Earth destroyers being observed today. Apophis.ICU is dedicated to revealing all things earth-destroying headed our way from Space.