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'God of chaos' asteroid Apophis will pass very close to Earth in 2029

Apophis will pass about 20,000 miles (32,000 km) above Earth on its 2029 flyby, offering an unusually close opportunity for observation from near-Earth space.
Earth's gravity is expected to exert a tidal effect on Apophis during the approach, potentially altering its rotation or surface features.
Scientists will look for surface changes that could reveal fresh material beneath weathered layers caused by space weathering.
MIT researchers will monitor Apophis's rotation to search for before-and-after spectral changes during the flyby.
The 2029 flyby will widen Apophis's orbit, shifting it from the Aten group toward the Apollo class of asteroids.
Global coordination among NASA, ESA, and ground-based observers will track Apophis, measure brightness changes, and collect radar data to refine its shape and orientation.
The event has shifted from feared to scientifically valuable, turning a potential hazard into an unprecedented study opportunity.
Radar observations in 2021 helped rule out any chance of impact for at least the next 100 years, reinforcing the safety of the 2029 encounter.
Apophis is an S-type, or stony, asteroid about 1,115 feet in mean diameter, likely formed in the main belt around 4.6 billion years ago.
The 2029 approach will be the closest-known-in-advance flyby of an asteroid this size, enabling thorough modern observations.

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