Asteroid Apophis to Fly Safely Within 31,600 km of Earth on 13 April 2029

On 13 April 2029 the near‑Earth asteroid 99942 Apophis will pass the planet at a distance of about 31,600 km, closer than geostationary satellites, but with no risk of impact for at least the next century, according to NASA and European space agencies. The rock, roughly 340‑375 m across, will be visible to the naked eye across large parts of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Atlantic, allowing up to 7.6 billion people to see a bright point moving slowly across the night sky for roughly seven hours.

Scientists plan to use the flyby to study how Earth’s gravity alters the asteroid’s orbit and surface, investigating possible landslides or structural changes. NASA’s OSIRIS‑APEX probe and the European‑led RAMSES mission are being readied to observe the event up close. Observatories worldwide, including a key site in the Canary Islands, are coordinating tracking campaigns to improve planetary‑defence models.

The event has been highlighted by international workshops, with experts such as MIT planetary scientist Richard Binzel stressing that Apophis will pass safely, offering a rare public and scientific spectacle unprecedented in human history.