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Asteroid Apophis will safely pass close to Earth on April 13, 2029
NASA ^ | 04/05/2026

Posted on 04/05/2026 5:44:24 AM PDT by devane617

Near-Earth asteroid Apophis is a potentially hazardous asteroid that will safely pass close to Earth on April 13, 2029. It will come about 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) from our planet’s surface — closer than the distance of many satellites in geosynchronous orbit (about 22,236 miles, or 36,000 kilometers, in altitude).

(Excerpt) Read more at science.nasa.gov ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Chit/Chat; Science
KEYWORDS: 2004mn4; apophis; asteroid; asteroids; astronomy; be; catastrophism; close; gonna; science

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22,000 miles from Earth surface and Apophis has a mean diameter of 1,115 feet (340 meters), and a long axis that is at least 1,480 feet (450 meters) long. Let's hope the slide rule is right because an impact from something this size would be devastating.
1 posted on 04/05/2026 5:44:24 AM PDT by devane617
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To: devane617

2 posted on 04/05/2026 5:47:35 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: devane617
What IS a little concerning is what Earth’s gravity might do to the asteroid. We’ll find out in 3 years, I guess. Our spring weather here this time of year is usually dicey.

The fact that may pass close enough to easily observe is exciting. Hope it’s at least nighttime here…

Thanks for posting!

3 posted on 04/05/2026 6:16:00 AM PDT by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: telescope115

I will guess this will become big news in the coming year. It should be easily visible at that size.


4 posted on 04/05/2026 6:21:19 AM PDT by devane617 (Discipline Is Reliable, Motivation Is Fleeting..)
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To: 75thOVI; Abathar; agrace; aimhigh; Alice in Wonderland; AnalogReigns; AndrewC; aragorn; ...



5 posted on 04/05/2026 6:26:48 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: devane617

Anything can happen between now and 2029. If that asteroid encounters something we don’t know about it could easily change the orbit enough for a direct hit. I’m not saying it’s going to happen but that it could happen.


6 posted on 04/05/2026 6:28:02 AM PDT by ChuckHam
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To: devane617

Asteroid 2024 YR4, a 60-meter-wide space rock, has a roughly 4% chance of striking the Moon on December 22, 2032. We might even have a Moon base up and running by then!


7 posted on 04/05/2026 6:51:36 AM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: devane617

Other “news” sites have helpful artists renditions of what would happen if Apophis hits Earth. LOL. And Neil deGrasse Tyson is on every show that will have him explaining that there is a much greater chance of impact the next time it passes.


8 posted on 04/05/2026 6:53:50 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: devane617

20,000 miles is a hair’s breadth, cosmologically speaking.


9 posted on 04/05/2026 7:34:26 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Perfection is impossible. But if you pursue perfection you may achieve excellence - - Vince Lombardi)
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To: Nateman

That far out, we should be able to deflect or disperse* it many months in advance. Granted that an impact (if well away from the base!) would provide some great seismological data.

*The latter especially if it is basically a pile of gravel and not a “rock”.


10 posted on 04/05/2026 7:53:23 AM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

No kidding!!

Does anyone know the timing? Maybe night-time over North America? That’d be cool to watch...


11 posted on 04/05/2026 7:56:39 AM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: ClearCase_guy

bttt


12 posted on 04/05/2026 8:23:22 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: devane617

Experts say


13 posted on 04/05/2026 9:04:50 AM PDT by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden )
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