Asteroid Apophis could be struck by space debris during 2029 Earth flyby

Researchers from the Istituto di Fisica Applicata (IFAC) of the Italian National Research Council have raised the possibility that human-made space debris could collide with the asteroid Apophis during its close approach to Earth in April 2029.

On April 13, 2029, the approximately 370-meter-wide asteroid will pass within 32,000 kilometers of Earth, a distance closer than the orbits of geostationary satellites. While the asteroid poses no threat to Earth, the high population of orbital debris presents a potential risk to the asteroid itself. The study, published in The Planetary Science Journal, explores this collision possibility.

The event offers a significant scientific opportunity. NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX and ESA’s RAMSES missions are expected to observe the flyby closely. Scientists anticipate that Earth's gravitational pull may alter the asteroid's rotation and potentially trigger surface changes such as landslides or tremors.