The Official Asteroid Apophis Site
Asteroid Apophis is a possible Earth bound asteroid. Known as 99942 Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid that had caused concern in December 2004 because initial observations indicated a small probability (up to 2.7%) that it would strike the Earth in 2029. Recent news indicate that it could be on a collision course afterall.

Year 2013

In 2013, asteroid Apophis will fly by and we should get a chance to see the true nature of the threat that could happen on April 13th 2036 and determine whether there should be grounds for some kind of defensive shield.

asteroid apophis 2013Asteroid Apophis continues to stay among the top positions on the list of possible impact with the Earth. The asteroid is anywhere from 885 feet to 1000 feet across. It was discovered in 2004 which astronomers became concerned because it had a risk of impacting Earth in the year 2029. However, further observations determined that the risk of impact was less and infact the asteroid would miss Earth by 18,300 miles…which is closer than the moon.

There are also other trajectory theories stating that in 2029 Asteroid Apophis will be effected by  the Earth’s gravity and cause it to be pushed in the direction of Earth when it comes back around on April 13th, 2036…Friday the 13th.

It late 2012 and 2013, astronomers will get a better view of the exact trajectory of the asteroid and will determine what to do then. In the meantime, Russian scientists are not waiting for 2012, they have already created a group to determine what to do in the event that it is found the asteroid is heading for a direct collision with Earth.

The close approach in the year 2029 will alter the asteroid’s orbit, which will make  predictions very uncertain without having more data. “If we get radar ranging in 2013 [the next good opportunity], we should be able to predict the location of 2004 MN4 out to at least 2070.” said Jon Giorgini of JPL.. Apophis will pass within 0.09666 AU (14.4 million km,8.9 million mi.) of the Earth in 2013 allowing astronomers to refine the trajectory for future close passes.

In July 2005, an Apollo astronaut named Rusty Schweickart is the chairman of the B612 Foundation asked NASA to investigate the possible orbital disturbance of this asteroid which would increase the probability of it impacting Earth. He asked to form an investigation of the necessity of placing a transponder onto the asteroid to get more accurate tracking data of how its orbit is affected by the Yarkovsky effect.

More to come.

A Purdue impact calculator estimates an asteroid the size of Apophis hitting the continental shelf would result in a 200-megaton blast that could spawn a tsunami with waves almost 37 feet-high some 50 miles away.