This is a radar capture of the asteroid’Apophis’, which is close to the Earth as far as 17 million km, from March 8 to 10. The white object in the circle is Apophis. One point represents 38.75m. Provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
It has been shown that the near-earth asteroid’Apophis’, which Korea aims to explore in 2029, has no risk of colliding with the Earth for at least 100 years. Scientists have predicted that the asteroid could hit Earth in 2068.
NASA said on the 26th that astronomers analyzed their orbit with radar observations while Apophis was recently approaching Earth, and found that Apophis was not at risk of colliding with Earth for at least 100 years.
Apophis is a 340m long asteroid that orbits the sun once every 324 days. Since its first discovery in 2004, it has been rated as one of the most dangerous asteroids that can affect Earth. NASA saw that there is no potential for Apophis to collide in 2029 and 2036 when it approaches Earth, but it has predicted the probability of a collision in 2068 at around 1 in 380,000. However, if Apophis falls on the Korean Peninsula, it has a formidable power that destroys the entire metropolitan area.
When Apophis approached Earth as far as 17 million kilometers on March 5, astronomers around the world began to observe Apophis. NASA also tracked the movement of Apophis using a Goldstone radio telescope with an antenna diameter of 70 m installed in Barstow, California, and a Green Bank radio telescope with a diameter of 100 m in West Virginia. By strengthening the signal by combining the two antennas, the location of Apophis, which is 17 million km away, 44 times farther than the 385,000 km distance between the moon and the Earth, can be observed with an accuracy within 150 m. “It’s sitting in Los Angeles and reading the dinner menu of a New York restaurant,” said Marina Brozovic, a researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
In 2029, Apophis marked its orbit when approaching Earth. Apophis approaches Earth as far as 32,000 km and changes its orbit slightly due to Earth’s gravity. Provided by NASA
As a result, Apophis showed no potential for impact on Earth in 2068. It turns out that there is no need to calculate the risk of collision for the next 100 years. “Recently, optical and radar observations have reduced Apophis’ orbital error from hundreds of kilometers to several kilometers in 2029,” said Davide Parnoccia, a researcher at NASA’s Center for Near-Earth and Nearest Astronomical Studies (CNEOS). I was able to get rid of it,” he said.
In addition to the asteroid’s orbit, astronomers are analyzing the asteroid’s shape, rotational speed, and axis from radar data. Apophis is believed to have two celestial bodies attached to it like a peanut. According to NASA, one-sixth of asteroids over 200m in length are two celestial bodies attached together.
The more accurate the information about Apophis, the more accurate it is expected to analyze the impact of Apophis on the Earth’s gravity after eight years. It is analyzed that on April 13, 2029, about eight years later, Apophis will approach 32,000 kilometers from the Earth’s surface. This is closer than 36,000 km, the altitude of a geostationary satellite orbiting the Earth. NASA said, “It’s an unprecedented opportunity to see the relics of the solar system up close with scientific curiosity, not as planet-threatening celestial bodies.”
Korea also aims to establish plans such as the development of a probe for the Apophis asteroid exploration in 2029. When the asteroid is close to Earth, it is a good condition for the probe to reach the asteroid with little fuel. President Moon Jae-in said on the 25th at the Naroju Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, after attending the comprehensive combustion test of the Korean launch vehicle, and unveiled the space development strategy, saying, “We will also examine the feasibility of the Apophis asteroid approaching Earth in 2029 and establish an exploration plan.” .