Huge asteroid bigger than Eiffel Tower will pass so close to Earth you could see it

Scientists have revealed that a humongous asteroid, bigger than the Eiffel Tower , will graze past Earth in 2029, an event initially considered as signalling calamity .

However, the space rock named 99942 Apophis has become an object of study as it creeps closer to our planet , with scientists hoping to improve our defences against similar celestial bodies.

Officials from the European Space Agency (ESA) have publicized their intention to finance preliminary work on the Rapid Apophis Mission for Security and Safety (RAMSES), involving the launch of a spacecraft to collect data on the asteroids size, shape, mass and rotation.

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In addition, researchers aim to discern its composition and internal structure, as well as trace its orbit and changes when it passes within a proximity of 20,000 miles from Earth roughly only one-tenth of the distance to the Moon - on 13th April 2029.

"The flyby it does with Earth is absolutely unique," stated Dr Holger Krag, Chief of ESA's Space Safety Programme Office, further informing that no other asteroid is expected to venture so close to us for several thousand years. "If the sky is clear, you should be able to see it with your naked eye."

Apophis is set to come closer to Earth than the geostationary satellites we rely on for TV, navigation, and weather forecasts. Dr. Krag highlighted the significance of this encounter: "It's the gravity field of the Earth that will basically slightly reshape the asteroid, causing it to change its form," he explained.

He also noted that Earth's gravitational influence might trigger landslides on Apophis' surface.

Ramses will serve as a messenger, relaying crucial data about Apophis back to Earth, aiding scientists in their understanding of such space rocks and their potential threat. "Our goal in planetary defence is not to do science on asteroids, but it's to characterise them in a way that one day we can deflect them when they become dangerous," he stated.

While most asteroids passing by Earth pose no significant risk due to their stable orbits, Professor Monica Grady from the Open University warns that Apophis is a different kettle of fish, being an Earth-crossing asteroid.

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Professor Grady raised concerns about the potential dangers of such near-Earth objects: "They come near the Earth, and there's potential that one day one of them will hit the Earth and cause a major disaster. We believe this happened 65m years ago, when the dinosaurs were all wiped out," she remarked. "And if it's a big asteroid and it hits us, it'll be a catastrophe which will destroy humanity."

Apophis, discovered in 2004, was a point of interest for many scientists who initially thought it would crash into Earth as it orbits the Sun. However, NASA dismissed these theories, stating that no such collision would happen as the asteroid neared Earth in 2020 and 2036.

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