In Egyptian myth, Apophis was the ancient spirit of evil and destruction, a demon that was determined to throw the world into darkness forever.
In
Egyptian
myth
,
Apophis
was
the
ancient
spirit
of
evil
and
destruction
,
a
demon
that
was
determined
to
throw
the
world
into
darkness
forever
.
A fitting name, astronomers reasoned, for a threat now rushing towards Earth from outer space.
A
fitting
name
,
astronomers
reasoned
,
for
a
threat
now
rushing
towards
Earth
from
outer
space
.
Scientists are monitoring the progress of a 390-metere wide asteroid discovered last year, which is potentially on a collision course with the planet.
Scientists
are
monitoring
the
progress
of
a
390-metere
wide
asteroid
discovered
last
year
,
which
is
potentially
on
a
collision
course
with
the
planet
.
NASA has estimated that Apophis has an outside chance of hitting the Earth in 2036.
NASA
has
estimated
that
Apophis
has
an
outside
chance
of
hitting
the
Earth
in
2036
.
If it did hit us, thousands of square kilometers would be directly affected by the explosion but the whole of the Earth would see the effects of the dust sent into the atmosphere.
If
it
did
hit
us
,
thousands
of
square
kilometers
would
be
directly
affected
by
the
explosion
but
the
whole
of
the
Earth
would
see
the
effects
of
the
dust
sent
into
the
atmosphere
.
At a recent meeting of experts in Near-Earth objects (NEOs) in London, scientists said it could take decades to design, test and build the required technology to deflect the asteroid.
At
a
recent
meeting
of
experts
in
Near-Earth
objects
(
NEOs
)
in
London
,
scientists
said
it
could
take
decades
to
design
,
test
and
build
the
required
technology
to
deflect
the
asteroid
.
The Apophis asteroid is placed at four out of ten on the Torino scale--a measure of the threat caused by an NEO where 10 is a certain collision which could cause a global disaster.
The
Apophis
asteroid
is
placed
at
four
out
of
ten
on
the
Torino
scale
--
a
measure
of
the
threat
caused
by
an
NEO
where
10
is
a
certain
collision
which
could
cause
a
global
disaster
.
This is the most possible danger of any asteroid in recorded history and it has a 1 in 37 chance of hitting the Earth.
This
is
the
most
possible
danger
of
any
asteroid
in
recorded
history
and
it
has
a
1
in
37
chance
of
hitting
the
Earth
.
Alan Fitzsimmons, an astronomer from Queen's University Belfast, said, "When it does pass close to us on April 13, 2029, the Earth will deflect it and change its orbit.
Alan
Fitzsimmons
,
an
astronomer
from
Queen
's
University
Belfast
,
said
,
``
When
it
does
pass
close
to
us
on
April
13
,
2029
,
the
Earth
will
deflect
it
and
change
its
orbit
.
There is a small possibility that if it passes through a particular point in space, the so-called keyhole, the Earth's gravity will change things so that when it comes back around again in 2036, it will collide with us."
There
is
a
small
possibility
that
if
it
passes
through
a
particular
point
in
space
,
the
so-called
keyhole
,
the
Earth
's
gravity
will
change
things
so
that
when
it
comes
back
around
again
in
2036
,
it
will
collide
with
us
.
''
The chance of Apophis passing through the keyhole, a 600-meter patch of space, is 1 in 5,500, based on current information.
The
chance
of
Apophis
passing
through
the
keyhole
,
a
600-meter
patch
of
space
,
is
1
in
5,500
,
based
on
current
information
.
There is no shortage of ideas on how to deflect asteroids.
There
is
no
shortage
of
ideas
on
how
to
deflect
asteroids
.
The Advanced Concepts Team at the European Space Agency has led the effort in designing a range of satellites and rockets to nudge asteroids that are on a collision course for Earth into a different orbit.
The
Advanced
Concepts
Team
at
the
European
Space
Agency
has
led
the
effort
in
designing
a
range
of
satellites
and
rockets
to
nudge
asteroids
that
are
on
a
collision
course
for
Earth
into
a
different
orbit
.
In Egyptian myth, Apophis was the ancient spirit of evil and destruction, a demon that was determined to throw the world into darkness forever. A fitting name, astronomers reasoned, for a threat now rushing towards Earth from outer space. Scientists are monitoring the progress of a 390-metere wide asteroid discovered last year, which is potentially on a collision course with the planet.  NASA has estimated that Apophis has an outside chance of hitting the Earth in 2036. If it did hit us, thousands of square kilometers would be directly affected by the explosion but the whole of the Earth would see the effects of the dust sent into the atmosphere. At a recent meeting of experts in Near-Earth objects (NEOs) in London, scientists said it could take decades to design, test and build the required technology to deflect the asteroid.  The Apophis asteroid is placed at four out of ten on the Torino scale--a measure of the threat caused by an NEO where 10 is a certain collision which could cause a global disaster. This is the most possible danger of any asteroid in recorded history and it has a 1 in 37 chance of hitting the Earth.  Alan Fitzsimmons, an astronomer from Queen's University Belfast, said, "When it does pass close to us on April 13, 2029, the Earth will deflect it and change its orbit. There is a small possibility that if it passes through a particular point in space, the so-called keyhole, the Earth's gravity will change things so that when it comes back around again in 2036, it will collide with us." The chance of Apophis passing through the keyhole, a 600-meter patch of space, is 1 in 5,500, based on current information.  There is no shortage of ideas on how to deflect asteroids. The Advanced Concepts Team at the European Space Agency has led the effort in designing a range of satellites and rockets to nudge asteroids that are on a collision course for Earth into a different orbit.