What is Apophis?
Apophis is an asteroid, which is a big rock that travels around the Sun. It is about 340 metres wide. That is roughly the length of three soccer fields placed end to end!
Scientists found Apophis in 2004. They named it after an old story character. At first they wanted to study it very carefully to learn exactly where it would go.
How close is it coming?
On April 13, 2029, Apophis will fly past Earth at about 31,600 kilometres away. That sounds far, but in space it is very close. It is even closer than some satellites that send us TV signals!
Even though it comes so near, scientists are sure it will not hit Earth. They have checked the math many times and given us the all-clear.
Will people be able to see it?
Yes! When Apophis zooms by, people in parts of the world may be able to see it with just their eyes, like a slow-moving star in the night sky.
That is super rare. Most asteroids are far too small or too far away to spot without a big telescope. Apophis will be a special treat for skywatchers.
Why are scientists so excited?
A close visit is a great chance to study an asteroid up close. Scientists can use telescopes and radar to learn what Apophis is made of and how it spins.
A NASA spacecraft called OSIRIS-APEX is planning to fly out and meet Apophis after the flyby. It will look at the rock closely to help us understand asteroids better.
Why does studying asteroids matter?
Asteroids are like time capsules from when our Solar System was born, billions of years ago. Studying them helps scientists learn how planets, including Earth, were made.
Learning about asteroids also helps us stay safe. The more we know, the better we can track any space rocks and protect our planet in the future.