Asteroid Apophis, called the 'God of destruction,' is moving towards Earth; will it destroy the planet? Here's what scientists are saying

Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, is a remnant from the early solar system, formed around 4.6 billion years ago. (Representative Image: Canva)

In a spectacle that sounds like the plot of a sci-fi thriller, an asteroid named Apophis is set to make a remarkably close approach to Earth in April 2029. But unlike the big-screen blockbusters, this real-life event offers scientists a unique opportunity to study a celestial visitor up close, rather than to save the planet from imminent doom.

Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, is a remnant from the early solar system, formed around 4.6 billion years ago. This sizeable space rock, influenced by the gravitational forces of giant planets like Jupiter, has a diameter of approximately 340 metres (1,100 feet). On April 13, 2029—an eerie Friday the 13th—Apophis will come within 20,000 miles of Earth, a distance closer than many geostationary satellites. Despite the ominous symbolism of its name and the date, Apophis poses no threat to our planet during this flyby. Instead, it will provide a spectacular sight in the skies over the Eastern Hemisphere, visible from parts of Europe, Africa, and Western Asia as a bright streak resembling a fast-moving star.

The question of what might happen if Apophis were to collide with Earth has sparked both scientific curiosity and public concern. Should such an impact occur, it would unleash energy equivalent to over 1,000 megatons of TNT—comparable to the detonation of tens to hundreds of nuclear weapons. The devastation would be catastrophic, though not on the same scale as the asteroid believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The damage would extend several hundred kilometres from the impact site, causing widespread destruction. Fortunately, current projections assure us that this scenario will not unfold in 2029.

The close flyby of Apophis presents an unprecedented opportunity for scientists to gather data and improve our understanding of asteroids. NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX mission, a rebranded version of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft that recently returned samples from asteroid Bennu, is scheduled to rendezvous with Apophis in June 2029. Over the course of 18 months, OSIRIS-APEX will map the asteroid’s surface and analyse its chemical composition, offering invaluable insights into the structure and history of Apophis.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is also preparing a mission called Ramses, which will observe Apophis during its approach and study the effects of Earth's gravity on the asteroid. The data collected by Ramses will help scientists understand how close encounters with planets can alter an asteroid’s surface and rotation, providing crucial information for future planetary defence strategies.

NASA has been actively working on developing methods to defend Earth from potential asteroid impacts. The success of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in September 2022, which demonstrated the ability to alter an asteroid's trajectory by crashing a spacecraft into it, was a significant step forward in planetary defence. The mission proved that with the right technology, humanity can potentially prevent a catastrophic impact event.

In addition to ongoing missions, NASA is developing the NEO Surveyor telescope, set to launch in 2028, which will search for near-Earth objects larger than 140 metres (460 feet). The goal is to identify 90% of such objects within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit. Future missions, including potential collaborations with private companies like Blue Origin, are under consideration to further enhance our ability to detect and deflect hazardous asteroids.

As the 2029 flyby of Apophis approaches, the scientific community is racing against time to finalise mission plans and secure funding for additional studies. While the prospect of a close encounter with a massive asteroid might seem daunting, it also represents a remarkable opportunity for discovery and advancement in our understanding of the cosmos.