What happens if Apophis hits the earth?

What would happen if Apophis hit Earth? Apophis would cause widespread destruction up to several hundred of kilometers from its impact site. The energy released would be equal more than 1,000 megatons of TNT, or tens to hundreds of nuclear weapons.

Will Apophis Hit Earth 2029?

Apophis will still pass by the Earth in 2029 – specifically on April 13 – at a distance less than 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) from the Earth’s surface. The massive asteroid known as 99942 Apophis was once considered among the most dangerous asteroid in space, with the potential to strike Earth very high.

How big is the Apophis asteroid?

606.96′
99942 Apophis/Radius

Where is Apophis now?

Asteroid 99942 Apophis is currently in the constellation of Virgo.

Will the asteroid Apophis hit Earth?

That asteroid, called Apophis, stretches about 1,100 feet (340 meters) across and will pass within 19,000 miles (31,000 kilometers) of Earth’s surface. That might sound scary, but scientists are positive that it will not hit Earth. Instead, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance for scientists to truly understand asteroids near Earth.

When will Apophis be closest to Earth?

The 2029 pass of asteroid Apophis. The April 13, 2029, encounter of Apophis with Earth will be extremely close. At its closest in 2029, Apophis will sweep at about 10\% of the Earth-moon distance. That’s very close for a space rock over 1,115 ft (340 meters) across!

Will an asteroid hit Earth in 2029?

According to some estimates, an asteroid the size of Apophis can be expected to strike Earth about every 80,000 years. As a result of the extremely close approach of April 2029, it is expected that perturbations caused by Earth’s gravity will change Apophis’ orbit from the Aten to the Apollo class. Image via Marco Polo/ Wikimedia Commons.

What is the size of the asteroid 99942 Apophis?

In Depth Asteroid 99942 Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid more than 1000 feet (over 300 meters) in size that will harmlessly pass close to Earth on April 13, 2029. When it was discovered in 2004, the asteroid caused a stir because initial calculations indicated a small possibility it would impact Earth in 2029.