7.6 Billion People Could Witness Apophis in a Rare Celestial Event
World
Most of the world's population will have a rare opportunity to observe one of the closest flybys of a large asteroid in modern astronomical history. According to the latest calculations by astronomers, on April 13, 2029, asteroid Apophis will be visible to the naked eye for nearly 90% of Earth's population — around 7.6 billion people.
At its closest approach, Apophis will pass about 32,000 kilometers above Earth's surface, closer than the orbit of geostationary satellites. In the night sky, it will appear as a bright moving point, crossing a distance comparable to the diameter of the full Moon in about one minute.
Visibility will depend on local weather conditions and light pollution. Scientists estimate the asteroid's diameter at approximately 375 meters, roughly equivalent to the height of a 40-story building. Despite its exceptionally close approach, current calculations indicate that Apophis poses no collision threat to Earth.
Visibility will depend on local weather conditions and light pollution. Scientists estimate the asteroid's diameter at approximately 375 meters, roughly equivalent to the height of a 40-story building. Despite its exceptionally close approach, current calculations indicate that Apophis poses no collision threat to Earth.
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