99942 Apophis Close Encounter with Earth, Friday 13 April 2029

99942 Apophis (pronounced /əˈpɒfɪs/, previously known by its provisional designation 2004 MN4) is a near-Earth asteroid that caused a brief period of concern in December 2004 because initial observations indicated a small probability (up to 2.7%) that it would strike the Earth in 2029. Additional observations provided improved predictions that eliminated the possibility of an impact on Earth or the Moon in 2029. However, a possibility remained that during the 2029 close encounter with Earth, Apophis would pass through a gravitational keyhole, a precise region in space no more than about 600 meters across, that would set up a future impact on April 13, 2036. This possibility kept the asteroid at Level 1 on the Torino impact hazard scale until August 2006, when the probability that Apophis will pass through the keyhole was determined to be very small. Apophis broke the record for the highest level on the Torino Scale, being, for only a short time, a level 4, before it was lowered. Its diameter is approximately 270 meters (885 ft). As of October 7, 2009, the odds of an April 13, 2036 impact are considered to be 1 in 250,000.

Physical characteristics
Based upon the observed brightness, Apophis' diameter was initially estimated at 450 metres (1,480 ft); a more refined estimate based on spectroscopic observations at NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility in Hawaii by Binzel, Rivkin, Bus, and Tokunaga (2005) is 350 metres (1,150 ft).
During the 2029 approach, Apophis' brightness will peak at magnitude 3.3, with a maximum angular speed of 42° per hour. The maximum apparent angular diameter will be ~2 arcseconds, so that it will be barely resolved by telescopes not equipped with adaptive optics.

Discovery and naming
Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004, by Roy A. Tucker, David J. Tholen and Fabrizio Bernardi and the Kitt Peak National Observatory. Precovery observations from March 15, 2004, were identified on December 27, and an improved orbit was computed. Radar astrometry further refined the orbit.
When its orbit was sufficiently well calculated, it received the permanent number 99942 (on June 24, 2005). Receiving a permanent number made it eligible for naming, and it received the name "Apophis" on July 19, 2005. Apophis is the Greek name of the Ancient Egyptian enemy of Ra: Apep, the Uncreator, a serpent that dwells in the eternal darkness of the Duat (earth's middle) and tries to swallow Ra during His nightly passage. Apep is held at bay by Set, the Ancient Egyptian god of Chaos.
On13 April 2029 it will become as bright as magnitude 3.3 (visible to the naked eye from rural as well as darker suburban areas, visible with binoculars from most locations). This close approach will be visible from Europe, Africa, and western Asia. As a result of its close passage, it will move from the Aten to the Apollo class.

Orbital characteristics:-
Epoch January 4, 2010 (JD 2455200.5)
Aphelion 1.0987 AU
Perihelion 0.74604 AU
Semi-major axis 0.92241 AU
Eccentricity 0.19121
Orbital period 323.58 d (0.89 a)
Average orbital speed 30.728 km/s
Mean anomaly 339.94°
Inclination 3.3315°
Longitude of ascending node 204.43°
Argument of perihelion 126.42°


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[jerry250ify]

its the 15th of sunday

[KurdstanPlanetarium]

@jerry250ify Friday the 13 is the day in the year 2029, 13 April is the day the Earth Orbit intersect with Apophis orbit, and this one happens to be Friday,

[Ultrasnorlax]

america would be barmy not to send a missile at it.

[Ultrasnorlax]

friday the 13th, that's bloody ironic

[JoaMarko]

they said the asteroid disappeard one night

[KurdstanPlanetarium]

@Bosman1745 its true it passes us by agian on 13 April 2036, but not as close as this ecounter !

[Bosman1745]

@KurdstanPlanetarium

But, anyway, some people told that this will happen much later, somewhere in 2036...

[KurdstanPlanetarium]

@Bosman1745 I just hope so too, the last time comet Elenic passed closed by Earth nearer than the moon, it broke up when passed by the Sun, and would not be a big threat to Earth as it used to be, lets hope Apophis passes us by safely..

[Bosman1745]

@KurdstanPlanetarium

Let us hope, that the Friday the 13th will be bad for that Asteroid, not for us. ;)

[Omegafill]

If anything, by then NASA will figure out a way to either shift it off course or (more unlikely than shifting it off course), blow it up.

[KurdstanPlanetarium]

@arbuckleification Happy Birthday then, dont belive in Superstition, its just another day like others, no difference...

hey you going to have Apophis to remember by forever, maybe you name one of your child in future "Apophis"