“God of Destruction” Can Threaten Earth in April 2029!

Asteroid Apophis also known as the “God of Destruction” will make a close approach to Earth in April 2029. According to scientists, the risk of its direct collision with our planet is extremely low. But a new research assumes that even if smaller asteroids or space rocks strike Apophis, they may potentially alter its trajectory, increasing the chances of its hitting the Earth.

Apophis has a diameter ranging between 340 and 450 metres. It will pass within 37,000 km of Earth. At that time it may be visible to the naked eye.

Apophis is nearly as wide as the height of the Empire State Building.

Astronomer Paul Wiegert from the University of Western Ontario in a research has pointed out that the chances of Apophis being deflected onto a collision course with Earth by smaller asteroids are quite low. According to Wiegert, the probability of an asteroid collision shifting Apophis onto a dangerous path is about 1 in 1 million, with the chance of a direct impact in 2029 being 1 in 2 billion, reported Space.com.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is keeping a close eye on asteroid Apophis. ISRO’s Chairman, Dr S Somanath told NDTV, “ISRO is very alive to that threat and our Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) is monitoring Apophis very closely. After all, we have only one Earth to live on. India will cooperate with all nations to ward off this and other such future threats.”

This asteroid was discovered in 2004. Its close flyby in March 2021 reassured scientists that Apophis would not pose a threat for at least the next 100 years.