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If a large asteroid hits Earth, it has the potential to release a huge amount of energy, … [+]
NASA / Don Davis
Will the near-Earth asteroid Apophis hit us in 2068?
Generally, asteroids smaller than ~ 1 km in size are irregular in shape, they rotate relative to … [+]
NASA / JPL-Caltech
Despite widespread affirmative reports, the threat of collision is likely to be negligible.
The animation depicts a mapping of the positions of known Near Earth (NEO) objects at points in … [+]
NASA / JPL-Caltech
Many observations, over long time scales, are required to accurately reveal the trajectory of an asteroid.
The asteroid Apophis has been measured many times over several years quite accurately, … [+]
University of Hawaii
Close gravitational encounters will also induce significant orbital changes.
Orbit of the asteroid Apophis (pink) in contrast to the Earth’s orbit (blue). The yellow dot represents … [+]
Phoenix7777 / Wikimedia Commons
Eventually, solar heating will lead to the escape of volatile gases, accelerating asteroids with irregular shapes and rotational movements.
These two radar images (above and below) of the asteroid Apophis show this large asteroid, about like … [+]
NASA / JPL
Discovered in 2004, Apophis currently orbits the Sun every 323 days.
This five-exposure image shows the asteroid Apophis (circled), with star trails in the background, … [+]
D. Tholen, M. Micheli, G. Elliott, UH Institute for Astronomy
Initial measurements indicated that Apophis had a one in 37 chance of impacting Earth in 2029.
When a potentially dangerous object is first measured, it will have a large cone of uncertainty … [+]
Lou Scheffer / public domain
It’s not true; Apophis will miss Earth by 47,000 km (29,000 miles), with gravity drastically altering its orbit thereafter.
In April 2029, the asteroid Apophis will pass close to the Earth, well within the orbit of the Moon and … [+]
NASA / Jpl
Apophis’ observations with the newly acquired Subaru telescope revealed a surprise: the Yarkovsky effect.
When an asteroid or comet rotates relative to the Sun, its side facing the Sun heats up while the … [+]
Graevemoore at English Wikipedia
Sunlight heated the spinning, erratic asteroid, causing unexpected accelerations.
Similar to the effects of sunlight on the nucleus of comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the … [+]
ESA / ROSETTA / NAVCAM
Previous odds of a collision in 2068 were estimated at 1 in 150,000; new probabilities will require new analysis.
The close encounter between Apophis and Earth in 2029 will change the trajectory of the asteroid, but the … [+]
NASA / JPL-Caltech
New satellite megaconstellations complicate Earth observations near sunset and sunrise – the most critical asteroid tracking window.
Hypothetically, a collision would release ~ 1200 Megatons of TNT of energy – enough to create a ~ 5 km (3 mile) crater.
Meteor Crater (Barringer), in the Arizona desert, has a diameter of over 1.1 km e … [+]
USGS / D. Roddy
However, with only 0.001% of the mass of the legendary asteroid killing dinosaurs, it poses no threat of extinction.
The asteroid redirection vehicle demonstrates the “gravity tractor” planetary defense technique on a … [+]
NASA
Possible mitigations include a future deflection mission – potentially in 2029 or 2036.
The Flyby Deep Impact probe shows the lightning that occurred when Comet Tempel 1 struck the … [+]
Paul Stephen Carlin / NASA / JPL
Mostly Mute Monday tells an astronomical story in pictures, images and no more than 200 words. Talk less; smile more.
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