Asteroid Approaching Earth! ‘God of Chaos’ Asteroid To Hit Earth on November 13? NASA Alerts Asteroid Apophis’ Close Approach to Home Planet Raising Doomsday Concerns
Asteroid Apophis was first discovered in 2004 and was identified as one of the most hazardous space rocks that could impact Earth. Apophis quickly gained notoriety as an asteroid that could pose a severe threat to the planet.
Asteroids' closer approach to planet Earth has often met with doomsday concerns. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory has an “Asteroid Watch” that focuses on and tracks asteroids and comets and sends alerts that the agency thinks will come close to Earth. In the latest move, NASA issued an alert on November 13 about asteroid 99942 Apophis, also known as “God of Chaos,” making its closest pass by the home planet. According to the space agency, the asteroid is 450 by 170 meters in size, which is close to the size of New York’s Empire State Building. The space rock’s close approach has sparked doomsday concerns among space enthusiasts with the hypothetical destruction it could cause if a collision course with Earth.
‘God of Chaos’ Asteroid Apophis
Asteroid Apophis was first discovered in 2004 and was identified as one of the most hazardous space rocks that could impact Earth. Apophis quickly gained notoriety as an asteroid that could pose a severe threat to the planet when astronomers predicted that it would come extremely close in 2029. However, additional observations ruled out the 2029 prediction of a potential impact. The space rock made a distant flyby of Earth in 2021. For November 13, 2024, scientists assured that this passing too will occur at a safer distance. While the Apophis will remain at a safe distance, scientists are examining potential gravitational interactions that could create “astroquakes,” causing surface vibrations that might shift its trajectory. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Studies has further assured that the asteroid poses no risk of impacting Earth for at least the next century.
Asteroid Apophis’ close approach highlights the need for monitoring near-Earth objects. If a collision happens, it would generate catastrophic shockwaves, destroying structures and likely causing massive tsunamis. While Earth has experienced significant asteroid damage in the past, an asteroid of Apophis’ rank could be the most devastating in human history.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 13, 2024 12:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).