This 1,100-Foot Asteroid Will Pass Just 20,000 Miles from Earth and Scientists Call It “Very Rare”

Apophis, a massive near-Earth asteroid, is set to pass just 20,000 miles from Earth on April 13, 2029. The flyby, described as “very rare,” will bring the space rock closer than many satellites while posing no threat to the planet.

The event has drawn significant attention because objects of this size, over 1,100 feet wide, almost never come this close in recorded history. It is not just a spectacle. Initially discovered in 2004, Apophis once raised fears of a potential impact. Those concerns have since been dismissed, and the asteroid is now seen as a valuable subject for study rather than a danger.

A Rare Encounter At An Extraordinary Distance

According to NASA, Apophis will pass about 20,000 miles above Earth, which is “closer than the distance of many satellites in geosynchronous orbit.” The agency said that:

“This will be the closest approach to Earth by an asteroid of this size that scientists have known about in advance. At its farthest, Apophis can reach a distance of about 186 million miles (299 million kilometers) from Earth.”

These kinds of flybys are extremely rare. The researchers added that an asteroid this large comes this close only every few thousand years. It even notes that:

“an event like this has not happened at any time in recorded human history,” adding that “without a doubt this is the first time it’s happened when humans have had the technology to observe it.”

A Threat That Disappeared

When Apophis was first spotted in 2004, early estimates suggested it might hit Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068. As stated by a NASA statement, further observations cleared up the uncertainty and ruled out any impact risk for at least the next 100 years. Even though it is still labeled a potentially hazardous asteroid, NASA is clear that:

“there is “no danger to Earth, to anyone or anything living on it, or to astronauts or satellites in space.” The agency also states that “Apophis does not pose any immediate risk to Earth.”

A Natural Experiment Shaped By Earth’s Gravity

As Apophis flies past, Earth’s gravity will strongly affect it. According to NASA, the asteroid will be“pulled, twisted, stretched, and squeezed by the gravity of Earth as it goes by,” something that only happens during very close encounters.

These forces are expected to slightly expand its orbit and alter its rotation. They also indicates that the stress may trigger small landslides or surface movements, particularly in steep regions. By observing these changes, scientists aim to better understand the asteroid’s internal structure and composition, insights that are otherwise difficult to obtain without direct exploration.

By watching these changes, scientists hope to learn more about what is inside the asteroid. The space agency explains that:

“Exactly how Apophis responds to these disturbances will depend on its internal structure and the materials it’s composed of. So by observing and measuring those responses, scientists will be able to work backwards and figure out what is going on inside the asteroid.”

This short flyby is safe, but it gives scientists a rare chance to watch how a large near-Earth asteroid behaves under strong gravitational forces.

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