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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

19 clusters · 125 sources · 63 days · First seen 3 months ago · Last updated about 1 month ago

Near-Earth asteroid close approaches 2026-2029

Overview

The Aten-class asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1 safely passed Earth on 27 June 2026 at about 2.56 million km, with radar and optical tracking confirming zero impact risk and refining its size to 750 m–1.6 km.

The headline encounter on 13 April 2029 will bring the 340-m to 370-m stony asteroid 99942 Apophis within roughly 32,000 km of Earth—well inside the geostationary belt and visible to approximately 90 percent of the global population. NASA and ESA have formally ruled out any impact threat for at least the next century. Planetary scientist Richard Binzel has described the event as a “once-per-millennium natural experiment.”

International space agencies are preparing coordinated missions to study the flyby, including NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX, ESA’s RAMSES, and JAXA’s DESTINY+. Scientists expect to observe how Earth’s gravity affects the asteroid’s rotation, trajectory, and surface, potentially triggering geological activity such as earthquakes or landslides.

However, a study published in The Planetary Science Journal by researchers from the Italian National Research Council, including Giulia Schettino and Alessandro Rossi of the Nello Carrara Institute of Applied Physics, warns that Apophis could collide with human-made space debris in geostationary orbit. Such a collision could create craters or dust clouds, making it difficult for scientists to distinguish between changes caused by Earth’s gravity and those caused by a debris impact. This risk could compromise the scientific data intended for the OSIRIS-APEX and RAMSES missions. NASA expert Humberto Campins notes that while the probability of a major impact during an individual's lifetime is extremely low, humanity must invest in planetary defense technologies to ensure long-term civilizational survival.

Entities

NASA · European Space Agency · Apophis · European Space Agency (ESA) · 99942 Apophis

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Apophis will pass within about 32,000 km of Earth on 13 April 2029.
[● 4 SOURCES] The fly‑by distance is lower than the altitude of geostationary satellites (~35,800 km).
[● 4 SOURCES] NASA and ESA have ruled out any impact risk from Apophis for at least the next century.
[● 4 SOURCES] The close approach will let scientists study Earth’s gravitational effects on Apophis, including changes to its orbit and rotation.
[● 4 SOURCES] NASA’s OSIRIS‑APEX mission and ESA’s RAMSES mission are planned to observe Apophis during the encounter.
[● 4 SOURCES] Apophis is about 340 metres in diameter.
[● 3 SOURCES] Simulations indicate a small risk that Apophis could collide with human‑made space debris during its 2029 pass.

Timeline

about 1 month ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
Asteroid Apophis could be struck by space debris during 2029 Earth flyby
Researchers suggest that human-made space debris could potentially strike the asteroid Apophis during its close flyby of Earth in April 2029.
about 1 month ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 7 sources
Apophis asteroid to pass near Earth in 2029, raising space debris concerns
Asteroid Apophis will pass within 32,000 km of Earth in 2029. While no impact is expected, scientists warn of potential collisions with space debris and emphasize the need for planetary defense.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 8 sources
Asteroid Apophis flyby poses scientific risk from space debris
Asteroid Apophis will pass Earth within 32,000 km in April 2029. Scientists warn that space debris could collide with it, potentially compromising data from NASA and ESA observation missions.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 9 sources
Asteroid Apophis to Pass Within 32,000 km of Earth in 2029, NASA and ESA Rule Out Impact
Apophis will pass 32 000 km from Earth on 13 April 2029; NASA and ESA see no impact risk, but Italian scientists note a small chance of collision with space debris, prompting observation missions.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
Apophis asteroid to fly within 32,000 km of Earth in 2029, debris risk noted
Apophis will pass within 32,000 km of Earth in April 2029; scientists say no impact risk but warn space‑debris could affect observations and stress planetary‑defence readiness.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
Asteroid Apophis to Fly Within 32,000 km of Earth in 2029
Asteroid Apophis will pass within 32,000 km of Earth on 13 April 2029, posing no impact risk. NASA, ESA, JAXA and a possible Chinese CubeSat will study the flyby to improve planetary‑defence science.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
Asteroid Apophis to Pass Within 32,000 km of Earth on April 13, 2029
Asteroid 99942 Apophis, about 340 m across, will swing within 32,000 km of Earth on 13 April 2029, closer than many satellites. NASA has ruled out any impact risk for the next century, and the pass will be view
2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
Asteroid Apophis to Fly Within 32,000 km of Earth, Visible to Most of World in 2029
On 13 April 2029 asteroid Apophis will pass within ~32,000 km of Earth, closer than geostationary satellites, and be visible to the naked eye for about seven hours, allowing roughly 90 % of the planet to watch.
2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
Asteroid Apophis to Fly Safely Within 31,600 km of Earth on 13 April 2029
Apophis will safely skim Earth at 31,600 km on 13 April 2029, visible to billions and studied by NASA and ESA missions to boost planetary‑defence research.
3 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
Asteroid Apophis to Skirt Earth in April 2029, Visible to Most of the World
Asteroid Apophis will pass safely within 32,000 km of Earth on 13 April 2029, likely visible to 90 % of the world’s population, with NASA and ESA preparing observations.
3 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 7 sources
NASA's DART kinetic‑impact test confirms asteroid deflection, but early detection remains key
NASA's 2022 DART mission proved kinetic impact can change an asteroid's path; ESA's Hera will study the results while experts stress early detection and note no imminent impact threats from known near‑Earth ast
3 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 7 sources
Asteroid 1997 NC1 flies harmlessly past Earth
Asteroid 1997 NC1, 0.75–1.65 km across, passed Earth at ~2.6 million km on Saturday morning, posing no danger; next close approach not until 2133.
3 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 8 sources
Asteroid 1997 NC1 to Fly Safely Past Earth on June 27, 2026
Asteroid 1997 NC1 will safely pass Earth on 27 June 2026 at 2.56 million km, posing no impact risk and visible through small telescopes.
3 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
Asteroid 1997 NC1 to Pass Near Earth Safely on June 27
ESA says asteroid 1997 NC1, 750‑1,650 m wide, will safely pass Earth on 27 June at 2.56 million km, visible with telescopes; impact risk is zero.
3 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
Asteroid 1997 NC1 makes close pass by Earth, observable with telescopes
Asteroid 1997 NC1, 750‑1650 m across, passed Earth at 2.6 million km on 27 June 2026, safe but visible with small telescopes and binoculars.
3 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 32 sources
Asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1 to Pass Near Earth Safely on June 27
ESA reports asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1 will safely pass Earth on 27 June at ~2.56 million km, size 0.75‑1.65 km, zero impact risk, visible with modest telescopes.
3 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 9 sources
Asteroid 1997 NC1 to Pass Near Earth on June 27, 2026
ESA says asteroid 1997 NC1 (≈0.8‑1.6 km) will safely pass Earth on 27 June 2026 at ~2.56 M km (6.66 LD) and can be seen with small telescopes.
3 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
Asteroid 1997 NC1 to Pass Within 2.6 million km of Earth on June 27, 2026
Asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1, 0.7‑1.6 km across, will safely pass Earth at about 2.6 million km on 27 June 2026; no impact risk, observable with amateur equipment and slated for radar study.
3 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
Asteroid 152637 (1997 NC1) to make closest Earth approach in 400 years on 27 June 2026
Asteroid 152637 (1997 NC1) will pass 2.56 million km from Earth on 27 June 2026, the closest in 400 years, with no impact risk; global radar and telescope observations will refine planetary‑defence data.

Sources

ac24horas.com · adevarul.ro · aktivni.si · alba24.ro · apach57.fr · archyworldys.com · arynews.tv · athina984.gr · aztecamorelos.com · bistrategic.com · biz.cafef.vn · brasil.perfil.com · bulgaria.actualno.com · circleline.prague · compartir-tecnologias.es · csca.aha.cam.ac.uk · danielmarin.naukas.com · dariknews.bg · derpendler.ch · diario.mx · diariolibre.com · dominicanoshoy.com · dsvc.com.br · eldiariodechihuahua.mx · elnuevodiario.com.do · elsumario.com · eltiempomx.com · eluniverso.com · elveedordigital.com · enallaxnews.gr · enikos.gr · ensemblepourlaville.be · entrelineas.com.mx · epitesti.ro · euroweeklynews.com · everyfutbol.co · excelsior.com.mx · expreso.ec · extra.com.co · extra.ec · fakt.pl · folhadevilhena.com.br · folhadoprogresso.com.br · forestgrovenewstimes.com · fouit.gr · gzt.com · halifax.citynews.ca · hna.de

This summary has been updated 9 times: see revision history