As the asteroid encounters Earth’s gravitational field in 2029, asteroid quakes could result on Apophis. In addition, astronomers hope to learn more about the asteroid’s rotation rate and spin state, which might tell them what effects could occur on Apophis during its very close flyby in 2029. Previous observations suggest that the asteroid is peanut-shaped – also described as bilobed, or having two lobes – a common shape for near-Earth asteroids. Further analysis of the radar data collected in early March should help astronomers learn what Apophis’ shape is. If we had binoculars as powerful as this radar, we would be able to sit in Los Angeles and read a dinner menu at a restaurant in New York. Brozovic went on to describe the excellent quality achieved through the collaboration, which she called: …a remarkable resolution, considering the asteroid was 17 million kilometers away, or about 44 times the Earth-moon distance.
The images seen at top are the product of the collaboration. This campaign not only helped us rule out any impact risk, it set us up for a wonderful science opportunity. Even so, we were able to acquire incredibly precise information about its distance to an accuracy of about 150 meters (490 feet). Marina Brozovic of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory explained: Apophis made a recent close approach with Earth, it was still nearly 10.6 million miles (17 million kilometers) away. The coordination between the two telescopes meant that Goldstone was transmitting data while Green Bank was receiving, performing what is known as a bistatic experiment that doubled the strength of the received signal. Researchers at the Green Bank Telescope took observations, coordinating with Goldstone, because the use of these two telescopes together allows the data to be sharper. The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex tracked the asteroid for about two weeks around closest approach. In early March, all eyes turned toward Apophis as the asteroid made a relatively close sweep (though not nearly as close as in 2029) to our planet on March 6. Image via NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ NSF/ AUI/ GBO. The asteroid was 10.6 million miles (17 million km) away, and each pixel has a resolution of 127 feet (39 meters). Radio antennas at the Deep Space Network’s Goldstone complex in California and the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia worked together to acquire these images. These images show asteroid Apophis during 3 days of its flyby on March 8, 9 and 10, 2021. That’s in contrast to the moon’s average distance of about a quarter-million miles (380,000 km). Apophis should pass on Friday 13, April 2029 at a nominal distance of 19,662 miles (31,643 km) from Earth’s surface. Though it will come breathtakingly close to Earth in 2029, a strike was subsequently ruled out.
It gained notoriety in 2004 when early observations suggested it might strike Earth in 2029. Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid with a relatively large size (it is about 1,100 feet – or 335 meters – wide). This new analysis means that Apophis is no longer on the Sentry Impact Risk Table, which is a list of objects that pass so close by Earth that astronomers have not yet been able to rule out a possible strike. Davide Farnocchia of NASA’s Center for Near- Earth Object Studies said: A 2068 impact is not in the realm of possibility anymore, and our calculations don’t show any impact risk for at least the next 100 years. Earlier observations had ruled out impacts during the upcoming 20 flybys. Radar observations taken at NASA’s Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California and the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia have officially ruled out an impact in 2068, the only year out of the next 100 that previously showed a slight risk. Later calculations let NASA scientists announce on March 26, 2021, that Earth is safe from an impact with the relatively large asteroid for at least the next 100 years. What Are the Odds of Asteroid Hitting EarthĬontinue What are the odds of asteroid hitting earthĭuring the asteroid Apophis’ most recent flyby in early March, astronomers were busy taking observations of this infamous space rock.
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