The threat of this asteroid has loomed over our planet since it was discovered in 2004. However, there are already three times when it is late for its appointment.
WASHINGTON DC – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reassured the world this week by reporting that, based on new observations, it is ruled out that the asteroid Apophis will hit Earth “for the next hundred years, at least.” .
“An impact in 2068 is no longer on the spectrum of possibilities, our calculations do not show any risk of impact for the next hundred years, at least,” said Davide Farnocchia, spokesman for NASA’s Center for Near Object Studies, in statements quoted in a statement from the US aerospace agency.
The Apophis threat has been looming over our planet for some time. Scientists previously had predicted impacts for the years 2039, 2036, and 2068. The first two dates have long since been ruled out, but the third was not; until now.
Scientists managed to refine the orbit of this asteroid around the Sun thanks to radar observations this month, when the asteroid passed at a distance of 17 million kilometers.
Detected in 2004, Apophis is officially off NASA’s “risk asteroids” list.
Apophis will zoom within 20,000 miles on April 13, 2029, allowing astronomers a more detailed observation.
