Asteroid Apophis God of Chaos to Pass Earth April 13 2029
News Context
At a glance
- The near-Earth asteroid 99942 Apophis, popularly known as the "God of Chaos," will make a close but safe flyby of Earth on April 13, 2029, passing within approximately...
- This proximity offers a rare opportunity for scientific observation, as the asteroid will be visible to the naked eye under clear, dark skies, particularly across parts of Africa,...
- Apophis, discovered in 2004 by astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, measures approximately 450 meters (1,480 feet) in length...
The near-Earth asteroid 99942 Apophis, popularly known as the “God of Chaos,” will make a close but safe flyby of Earth on April 13, 2029, passing within approximately 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of the planet’s surface — a distance closer than many satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
This proximity offers a rare opportunity for scientific observation, as the asteroid will be visible to the naked eye under clear, dark skies, particularly across parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia during its closest approach.