The European Space Agency (ESA) has given the go-ahead for initial work on a mission to visit an asteroid named Apophis in 2029.
Apophis is 340 meters wide. If it were to hit Earth, the energy released would equal to the equivalent of tens or hundreds of nuclear weapons.
Luckily, Apophis will not hit Earth in 2029. Instead, it will pass safely at a distance of 19,794 miles. Nevertheless, this is a very close pass by such a big object and Apophis will be visible with the naked eye.
ESA’s mission should help to understand how to deflect an asteroid that threatens Earth, should we need to in the future.
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