Apophis 2029 Earth Flyby: Observing a 340m Asteroid Passing Inside Geostationary Orbit

On April 13, 2029, humanity will witness a once-in-a-millennium celestial event: 340-meter asteroid 99942 Apophis will pass within 31,600 km of Earth's surface—inside the orbital ring of geostationary weather satellites.

1. Discovery and Historical Impact Risk Discovered in 2004, initial orbital calculations gave Apophis an alarming 2.7% impact probability for 2029. Subsequent radar tracking confirmed a safe pass, but confirmed it as the closest approach of a massive asteroid in recorded history.

2. Naked-Eye Visibility Across Continents At peak approach, Apophis will reach 3rd magnitude brightness, visible to the unaided eye across Europe, Africa, and Western Asia as it streaks across the night sky.

3. Tidal Torques & Asteroid Seismology Earth's gravitational gradient will induce surface tremors and landslides across Apophis, altering its rotational tumbling state. Space agencies are preparing dedicated rendezvous missions (such as ESA RAMSES) to study tidal physics.

Apophis 2029 Earth Flyby: Observing a 340m Asteroid Passing Inside Geostationary Orbit

1. Discovery and Historical Impact Risk Discovered in 2004, initial orbital calculations gave Apophis an alarming 2.7% impact probability for 2029. Subsequent radar tracking confirmed a safe pass, but confirmed it as the closest approach of a massive asteroid in recorded history.

2. Naked-Eye Visibility Across Continents At peak approach, Apophis will reach 3rd magnitude brightness, visible to the unaided eye across Europe, Africa, and Western Asia as it streaks across the night sky.

3. Tidal Torques & Asteroid Seismology Earth's gravitational gradient will induce surface tremors and landslides across Apophis, altering its rotational tumbling state. Space agencies are preparing dedicated rendezvous missions (such as ESA RAMSES) to study tidal physics.

☄️ Asteroid3D リアルタイム3Dシミュレーター