If you have a keen interest in the field of astronomy, and love reading about different solar units, then you are in the right space, and this article is perfect for you. Focusing on the asteroid, “Apophis” this article will provide you with all the information about the same.
Contents
When will the Apophis asteroid pass close to Earth?
“99942 Apophis” a name all around these days, gaining fame is an asteroid expected to pose a serious threat to our mother Earth. The astronomers have predicted it to come close to our planet, in April 13th 2029 however, later the predictions were ruled out and another close approach was expected to be in 2036, 2051, 2066 and 68.
What is the meaning of the name Apophis?
All asteroids are named after certain sources, and similarly ‘Apophis gets its name from the ‘God of Destruction and Darkness,’ personifying evil and chaos in former Egyptian mythology.’
Who Discovered Apophis Asteroid?
It was discovered in 2004, on 19th June by the astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen and Fabrizio Bernardi. They made the discovery at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona. Their observation lasted only for two days, due to weather issues. However, luckily the observation was remade in the same year by a team at the Siding Spring Observatory, in Australia.
Conclusion
This asteroid is known as the most hazardous one, as of now. It has a diameter of 370 meters, and according to ISRO’s chairman S. Somanath, asteroids of more than 10km in diameters are believed to affect the earth, and we must be prepared for the same.
One of the most interesting revelations made by the NASA is that, the asteroid is going to be close enough to the earth, for the people in the Eastern Hemisphere to get a glimpse of it without any binoculars or telescope.
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Such incidents are not very frequent, and it will be interesting to see whether we get a glimpse of the asteroid and how ISRO plans on contributing towards it. As per the ISRO chief, discussions about ISRO’s contribution are in progress and ideas such as, instrument preparation for the mission have been shared.