On June 19, 2004, astronomers Roy A. Tucker, David J. Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi of the Kitt Peak National Observatory discovered asteroid Apophis. The boulder with a diameter of approximately 335 meters has caused interest and concern because, according to the first calculations, it might hit our planet on April 13, 2029 with a probability of 2.7%. It was therefore designated as one of the most dangerous asteroids.
What if…?
If Apophis were to hit Earth, the impact would be catastrophic. If it were to hit land, it would create a crater regarding 5 kilometers wide and 500 meters deep. During the impact, an unimaginable amount of energy equivalent to approximately 1150 megatons of TNT would be released. This is more than 23,000 times more energy than was released in the explosion of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Resultant the shock wave would flatten everything within tens of kilometers and the heat from the impact would cause fires over a much larger area. Dust and debris would be ejected into the atmosphere, leading to a “nuclear winter” during which sunlight would be blocked. As a result, the global temperature would drop sharply.
If Apophis were to hit the ocean, which is more likely since they cover 71% of the Earth’s surface, it might trigger a tsunami hundreds of meters high. These would destroy coastal cities and the resulting water vapor in the atmosphere might lead to significant climate changes.
Do not panic!
Later calculations of the route significantly reduced the possibility of collision, however there was still some probability that this object would collide with Earth. The results of the latest study, conducted by astronomer Paul Wiegert of Western University and Benjamin Hyatt of the University of Waterloo, show that there is virtually no reason to panic. It brings details web StudyFinds.
During its movement around the Sun, the asteroid Apophis comes close to our planet at certain intervals. The next close flybys of this body are expected in 2029 and 2036. Current calculations suggest that on April 13, 2029, it will pass safely at a distance of 37,399 kilometers, which is regarding a tenth of the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
Scientists already discovered several years ago that Apophis will safely miss the Earth on these occasions. Wiegert and Hyatt set out to calculate the orbits of all 1.3 million known asteroids in the Solar System, to rule out the possibility of Apophis hitting another space object and then heading towards Earth.
Apophis is not dangerous
As part of their work, scientists mention an event that will occur in December 2026. At that time, Apophis will encounter the planet 4544 Xanthus with a diameter of 1300 meters. The minimum distance between their orbits is less than 10,000 kilometers, with Xanthus passing the closest point just four hours following Apophis.
“Using a detailed computer simulation of our solar system, we have calculated the orbits of all known asteroids and we evaluated the possibility of such an event as unlikely,“ said Wiegert, who works as a professor of physics and astronomy. “Fortunately, no such precipitation is expected.”
The results of the scientific research by Paul Wiegert and Benjamin Hyatt were published on March 1 of this year in the Planetary Science Journal. This periodical focuses on solar system and exoplanet research, with the aim of publishing original scientific papers in various fields of planetary science.
