Asteroid Apophis to pass Earth in 2029 with no impact risk, NASA says
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A large asteroid the size of the Eiffel Tower is expected to come unusually close to Earth in 2029, but there is no risk of impact, scientists said.
The asteroid, named Apophis, will pass approximately 20,000 miles from Earth’s surface on April 13, 2029, according to NASA; That’s closer than most satellites in orbit. Apophis is classified as “potentially hazardous” and consists of leftover “raw material” that was never part of a planet or moon.
“When discovered in 2004, it became clear that Apophis could impact Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068,” NASA said. “Since then, astronomers have monitored Apophis closely using optical telescopes and ground-based radar, providing a better understanding of its orbit. Based on this data, NASA is now confident that Apophis is not at risk of impacting Earth for at least 100 years.”
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The space agency said a NASA simulation showed how Apophis, a large asteroid, would pass by Earth in 2029, but there was no risk of impact. (NASA)
Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004 by astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona.
Due to technical problems and weather conditions, they were only able to see the asteroid for two days. NASA said in December 2004 that another team of astronomers in Australia was able to observe the asteroid.
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A skyscraper-sized asteroid named 2025 SC79 was discovered hidden in the sun’s glare in September 2025. (Carnegie Science)
Observatories around the world and in space will observe Apophis’ historic close approach to better understand its physical properties. In anticipation of the event, NASA directed a spacecraft to rendezvous with Apophis shortly after its approach to Earth in 2029. After successfully completing a mission to collect a sample of asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth in September 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx was sent to study Apophis.
The spacecraft was renamed OSIRIS-APophis EXPlorer (OSIRIS-APEX) and set out to meet its new target. The European Space Agency (ESA) is also sending a spacecraft to examine the asteroid.
Apophis is expected to be visible to observers in the Eastern Hemisphere without a telescope or binoculars, weather conditions permitting.
A skyscraper-sized asteroid named Apophis was discovered by astronomers in 2004. Artist’s presentation. (iStock)
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“The most significant thing that occurred in this event was that Apophis was pulled, twisted, stretched, and compressed by Earth’s gravity in a way that could only occur during a very close encounter,” NASA said. “The overall gravity will change Apophis’ orbit around the Sun, making the orbit slightly larger and giving it a longer orbital period.”
