Off The Record
The “God Of Chaos” Asteroid, Which May Strike Earth, Is Tracked Live By NASA
Because of its potential threat to Earth, the asteroid Apophis—ominously known as the “God of Chaos”—has drawn the attention of both scientists and the general public.
NASA has now offered a live feed to monitor the asteroid’s motions, which raises both concerns and reassurances.
Could this enormous space rock, which has the potential to have an impact force equal to 1,000 megatons of dynamite, ever strike our planet? This is what we currently know. [1]
What Is Apophis?
The 340-meter-wide asteroid Apophis was found in 2004 and is named after the Egyptian deity of chaos and destruction. Because of its closeness to Earth, it soon gained a reputation as one of the most dangerous asteroids.
Apophis will fly by Earth on Friday, April 13, 2029, at a mere 19,000 miles away, close enough to be seen with the unaided eye.
Both excitement and worry have been aroused by this event, especially in light of the potential consequences if its course is changed.
Tracking Apophis’ Trajectory
In order to track Apophis’ voyage, NASA has taken a number of steps, including offering a live stream that lets users follow its trajectory in real time.
Apophis would safely pass Earth in 2029, according to early research, but a recent analysis indicates that even a minor contact with another space object could alter its trajectory. [2]
Paul Wiegert, a Canadian astronomer, cautions that Apophis might be diverted into a collision with Earth by chance contact with a minor asteroid.
Even though there is a very slim chance of this occurring—roughly 1 in 2 billion—the prospect has prompted continued observation.
What Could Cause a Collision?
Even though Apophis is not currently headed straight for Earth, it could change course if it collides with something as small as 0.6 meters.
Wiegert states that there is a 10^-8 chance that an invisible tiny asteroid will deflect Apophis sufficiently to cause it to collide with Earth in 2029.
Despite this remote possibility, scientists are still closely monitoring the asteroid, especially since Apophis won’t be visible through telescopes until 2027.
The Impact of a Collision
The impact of an Apophis collision with Earth would be disastrous. According to experts, more than 1,000 megatons of TNT would be discharged, which would be sufficient to destroy an area hundreds of miles across.
A direct strike on a populous location could result in millions of deaths, even if it wouldn’t be comparable to the asteroid that killed out the dinosaurs.
Fortunately, the chances of that happening are still quite low. According to NASA’s radar observation missions, there is now no chance that Apophis will have an impact on Earth for at least the next century. However, because space is unpredictable, ongoing observation is necessary.
Future Measures and Planetary Defense
There are backup preparations in case Apophis’ trajectory changes in a way that could cause harm.
Recently, NASA successfully deflected an asteroid’s motion in order to conduct its Double Asteroid Redirection (DART). In the future, this method might be used to reroute Apophis if necessary.
The employment of nuclear weapons or more subdued techniques, such changing the asteroid’s surface to change how much sunlight it absorbs, are examples of other potential interventions. [3]
A Close Encounter
Scientists have a rare opportunity to investigate potentially dangerous asteroids because of Apophis’ close approach, even though it is unlikely to live up to its destructive moniker in 2029.
We can keep a close eye on this space rock and be more ready for any unexpected changes in its trajectory thanks to NASA’s live stream and ongoing study.
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