Asteroid to fly past Earth in 2029 is being closely monitored

In 2029, an asteroid slightly larger than the Eiffel Tower will whiz by Earth in an event that until recently scientists feared could herald a catastrophic collision.

Researchers now hope to closely observe 99942 Apophis as it approaches Earth to bolster our defenses against other asteroids.

The Ramses mission will send a spacecraft to Apophis to explore the asteroid's internal composition and structure as it approaches Earth. Photo: ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced funding for a mission called the Rapid Mission for Apophis Security and Safety (Ramses), which will send a spacecraft to the asteroid to collect information about its size, shape, mass and how it spins as it hurtles through space.

The mission will also shed light on Apophis's composition and internal structure, as well as its orbit, and explore how the asteroid changes as it passes within 32,000km of Earth - about a tenth of the distance to the Moon - on Friday 13 April 2029.

"Apophis's flyby of Earth is completely unique," said Dr Holger Krag, head of ESA's Space Safety Programme Office, adding that no asteroid is expected to come this close for several thousand years. "If the sky is clear, you can see Apophis with the naked eye."

Apophis will pass closer to Earth than the geostationary satellites used for television broadcasting, GPS navigation and weather forecasting. At that distance, Dr. Krag said, the asteroid will begin to interact with Earth.

"Earth's gravity will essentially reshape the asteroid a little bit, causing it to change shape," he said, adding that gravity could also cause landslides on the asteroid's surface.

Krag believes that insights from the "Ramses mission" will help scientists understand asteroids and the risks such space rocks pose.

“Our goal in planetary defense is not to do scientific research on asteroids, but to characterize them in such a way that we can one day deflect them when they become dangerous,” said Dr. Krag.

Nguyen Khanh (according to Guardian)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tieu-hanh-tinh-se-luot-qua-trai-dat-vao-nam-2029-van-dang-duoc-theo-doi-sat-sao-post303659.html