The race to visit the asteroid making the closest pass by Earth
The asteroid Apophis, named after the Egyptian god of chaos and destruction
ESA-Science Office
In four years, on 13 April 2029 to be exact, a large asteroid named Apophis will fly by Earth just 32,000 kilometres above the surface. Apophis, like the recently identified asteroid known as 2024 YR4, was once thought to be on a crash course with our planet. After its likelihood of hitting us was lowered to zero, and some presumed sighs of relief, astronomers began planning for the day it would make its exceptionally close flyby.
