APOPHIS to be Explored by Asteroid Probe

The asteroid probe named OSIRIS-REx, which made headlines by plucking a soil sample from the asteroid named Bennu and sending it back to Earth in a capsule which made a parachute landing in Utah in September, 2023, has been rebranded as OSIRIS-APEX - short for APophis EXplorer and was put it on course for its next target, APOPHIS.

OSIRIS-APEX is scheduled to remain near Apophis for 18 months - orbiting, maneuvering around it and even hovering just over its surface, using rocket thrusters to kick up loose material to reveal what lies beneath.

Close examination of Apophis could give planetary defense experts valuable information about the structure and other properties of the asteroid. The more scientists know about the composition, density and orbital behavior the greater the chances of devising effective asteroid-deflection strategies to mitigate impact threats.

On April 13, 2029, Earth's gravity will likely cause measurable disturbances to the asteroid's surface and motion, changing its orbital path and rotational spin. Tidal forces could trigger landslides on APOPHIS and dislodge rocks and dust particles to create a comet-like tail.

More information about the APophis EXplorer mission may be found here.

Apophis may or may not pass through the so-called "Keyhole" in 2029.

April 13, 2029, the astroid named Apophis will come close, very close, to the Earth. And if it gets within 600 miles of the so-called "gravitational key-hole" it will hit our planet 7 years later.

About the astroid named Apophis

Apophis on NOVA

How much damage would Apophis do if it hits the Earth?

Calculation of damage to Earth in 2036 should Apophis travel through the "keyhole" in 2029

Apophis - still a slight concern and it deserves watching

Although early indicators show the astroid Apophis has only almost zero chance of hitting Earth in 2029, the possibility of it going through the "keyhole" is still a slight concern and it deserves watching.

Astroid Apophis

The astroid named Apophis will make a first appearance on April 13, 2029 and, if it goes through the "trajectory keyhole", will make a second appearance seven years later, on April 13, 2036.

 Latest Update from NASA

Apophis Update as of January 10, 2013

NASA Rules Out Earth Impact in 2036 for Asteroid Apophis

 "With the new data provided by the Magdalena Ridge [New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology] and the Pan-STARRS [Univ. of Hawaii] optical observatories, along with very recent data provided by the Goldstone Solar System Radar, we have effectively ruled out the possibility of an Earth impact by Apophis in 2036," said Don Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office at JPL. "The impact odds as they stand now are less than one in a million, which makes us comfortable saying we can effectively rule out an Earth impact in 2036. Our interest in asteroid Apophis will essentially be for its scientific interest for the foreseeable future."

The Question is, will Apophis pass through the Keyhole, sealing Earth's fate 7 years later?

Distance and Position Tracker of Apophis

To find out the distance and position of the Apophis asteroid in relation to earth, click here.

NASA - Predicting if Apophis will pass through the Keyhole in 2029

The latest update from the NASA website:
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/apophis/

TED Talk, regarding Apophis and other near Earth astroids

Apophis Watch

In 2029, Apophis will still give Earth a very close shave as it will fly past at only 30,000 km. In comparison, the Moon orbits the Earth at 385,000 km and communication satellites at 36,000 km.

About Apophis

99942 Apophis (previously known by its provisional designation 2004 MN4) is a near-Earth asteroid that will fly closely past the orbit of Earth on April 13, 2029 and again in 2036. It will fly between the orbit of Earth and the orbit of the hundreds of satellite systems we have orbiting our planet.   99942 Apophis has a diameter of 325 meters (1,066 ft) and it will easily be visible both during the day as well as the night by the naked eye.