A study conducted by scientists at the State University of St. Petersburg, Russia, reveals that the asteroid Apophis, about 1,066 feet in diameter, could collide with Earth in 2068.
This research, published by the news agency RIA Novosti, coincides with predictions made by NASA specialists, that the asteroid will approach Earth at a distance of about 19,800 miles.
This distance, according to the American experts, is close enough so that the gravity of the Earth can divert the asteroid into a path that would return it to impact later with our planet.
However, for the impact to occur, in 2029 it would have to pass close enough to the planet to alter its orbit . Even so, the chances of this happening are limited.
“The probability of a collision with Apophis is 3 per million, there are other bodies with a higher probability of collision, but we do not classify them as dangerous,” said scientist Boris Shustov for Sputnik.
Before the possible collision with Earth in 2068, the asteroid will approach our planet in 2044, at a distance of about 9.9 million miles. Other approaches will take place in 2051 and 2060.
Apophis he was discovered in 2004 and was named in honor of the god of destruction and evil in Egyptian mythology.
Its finding in 2004 caused a stir in the world scientific community, since the calculations revealed that there was a 2.7% chance that this celestial body would collide with Earth in 2029.
Later this prognosis was discarded. However, today there are scientists who treat with skepticism the possible clash of Apophis with the Earth.
