The Apophis asteroid to come crashing down to Earth is very unlikely. The asteroid larger than two football fields found in 2004 by NASA was thought to crash in 2029. Now chances are nearly zilch.
NASA found the Apophis asteroid in 2004, expecting it to crash into the Earth in 2029 and killing our planet. After additional observations and a little number-crunching, astronomers announced the Apophis asteroid killing our planet had a chance of about a quarter million.
“Technically, they’re correct, there is a chance in 2036 that Apophis will hit Earth,” Donald Yeomans, head of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office, said.
Russian scientists are currently under the impression the Apophis asteroid will crash into the Earth in 2036. There may be a chance of Apophis crashing into us, although it’s a very small chance of happening. The Russians have come to the conclusion that due to the size and shape of this asteroid, it’s course will change by 28 degrees and should be in the same place as the Earth in April 2036.
“The situation is that in 2029, April 13, Apophis flies very close to the Earth, within five Earth radii, so that will be quite an event, but we’ve already ruled out the possibility of it hitting at that time. On the other hand, if it goes through what we call a keyhole during that close Earth approach … then it will indeed be perturbed just right so that it will come back and smack Earth on April 13, 2036,” Donald Yeomans, head of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office, said.
The asteroid will have to pass through akeyhole in order to crash inot Earth. This is what makes the crash very unlikely. A more likely scenario is the asteroid will come very close to Earth in 2012 and 2013 and be under very close radar. If the world doesn’t come to an end in 2012, the next possibility is 2036. Although, these both have a very unlikely chance.
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