In 4 years, 2 billion people will be able to witness a unique phenomenon in the sky

Space is both an exciting and mysterious place, and it is important to know that many celestial objects are currently traveling through it at colossal speeds. This is the case with Apophis, an asteroid of 340 meters in diameter which will offer a spectacle that only occurs once every 7,500 years to two billion people in 2029.

When it was discovered in 2004, this giant caused a shockwave in the scientific community. It must be said that it presented a 2.7% risk of colliding with Earth, placing it at level 4 on the Torino Scale. Fortunately, over the years, observations have allowed to redefine its trajectory, and in 2021, any threat was definitively ruled out for at least a century.

But during its passage 30,000 km from Earth, scheduled for April 13, 2029, Apophis could be affected by Earth's gravity, which could alter its trajectory. And this could be a unique opportunity for scientists to observe the effects of this gravity on a celestial object in real time.

In addition, NASA has decided to reorient the OSIRIS-REx space probe, which is set to study Bennu, so that it can fly over Apophis during its passage, and Europe has also made the same choice with the Ramses project, which could observe this asteroid with the help of a small satellite capable of detecting seismic waves.

An incredible show for two billion people

Finally, if Apophis poses no threat, it could provide a unique spectacle in the night sky. Indeed, as is the case with these two comets that are visible in October, people living in Africa and Western Europe will be able to observe this asteroid moving across the sky with the naked eye, appearing as a very bright new star.

Of course, its trajectory will be redefined within four years, so that everyone knows where to look in the sky. But be careful, because clear weather will be needed, and it will be necessary to monitor the weather when the time comes, not forgetting that other cosmic events may occur between now and then.

Finally, the passage of Apophis could serve as a test for potential new threats from space. And this, with the aim of detecting asteroids and defining different options to divert them from their trajectory.