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A huge asteroid named after the “ God of Chaos ” is gaining speed as it travels to Earth, increasing its chances of an impact in 2068 that would be equivalent to 880 MILLION tons of TNT
- The asteroid Apophis has gained speed as it travels on a path to Earth
- Experts call this the Yarkovsky effect, which occurs when the asteroid collects heat from the sun and releases it, creating something like a tiny thruster.
- These findings suggest it could hit Earth on April 12, 2068
- It would release the same equivalent as if 880 million tons of TNT had exploded
An asteroid named after the god of chaos is gaining speed as it travels on a path to Earth and could hit our planet in 48 years, experts warn.
Astronomers from the University of Hawai’i have confirmed that the massive asteroid Apophis has accelerated its path due to non-uniform radiation, which acts as a tiny thruster.
Prior to the discovery, the impact was said to be impossible, but new findings suggest the asteroid has a chance of crashing to Earth on April 12, 2068, and could be catastrophic.
Apophis is more than 1,000 feet wide and an impact would be equivalent to 880 million tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT) exploding all at once.
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An asteroid named after the god of chaos is gaining ground as it travels on a path to Earth and could hit our planet in 48 years. Astronomers confirmed that Apophis (circled) accelerated its path due to non-uniform radiation, which acts as a tiny thruster
Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004 by astronomers at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
The asteroid has since been tracked as it orbits the sun, which completes less than one Earth year.
The researchers spotted Aphophis with the Subaru telescope earlier this year and determined that it had gained speed following the analysis, known as the Yarkovsky effect.
When the body of the asteroid heats up in the sunlight, it radiates energy again in the form of heat, which acts as a tiny thruster for the cosmic object.
Astronomers have said that before the effect occurred an impact was impossible in 2068, but they have changed tune since then.
Before the discovery, the impact was said to be impossible, but new findings suggest the asteroid has a chance of crashing to Earth on April 12, 2068. One impact would equate to 880 million tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT) exploding all over. in one run . (In the photo there are images of the asteroid in 2012)
Dave Tholen, one of the astronomers, said: “ The new observations we got with the Subaru telescope earlier this year were good enough to reveal Apophis’ Yarkovsky acceleration, and show that the asteroid is becoming moving away from a purely gravitational orbit of about 170 meters per year, enough to keep the 2068 impact scenario in play.
Apophis also received the third highest threat title on NASA’s Sentry Risk Table, Gizmodo reports.
The table estimates there is a one in 150,000 chance of the asteroid hitting Earth in 48 years, but Tholen told Gizmodo that the odds are closer to one in 530,000 – this figure explains the Yarkovsky effect.
The asteroid contains nickel and iron and radar images suggest it is elongated with the two lobes, making it resemble a peanut.
The researchers note that further observations are underway to fully understand the magnitude of the Yarkovksy effect and how it affects Apophis’ orbit.
The asteroid contains nickel and iron and radar images suggest it is elongated with the two lobes, making it resemble a peanut (artist impression). Data estimates there is a one in 150,000 chance that the asteroid will hit Earth in 48 years
And they plan to “know before 2068 if there is any possibility of impact”.
When Apophis was first discovered, experts said there was a 2.7% chance of an impact on Earth in 2029, but now data shows it will pass safely within 19,794 miles of Earth.
This is the closest approach to an asteroid of this size that scientists knew in advance.
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