In April 2029, an asteroid the size of several football fields will pass closer to Earth than many of our satellites.

youtube October 30, 2026

☄️ In April 2029, an asteroid the size of several football fields will pass closer to Earth than many of our satellites. Scientists say it will not hit us, and they plan to watch it up close.

The asteroid is called Apophis. It is about 375 meters across on average and weighs roughly 20 million tons.

On 13 April 2029, it will pass within about 32,000 kilometers of Earth's surface.

That is closer than satellites in geostationary orbit, which circle about 36,000 kilometers above us.

The European Space Agency says it will be the closest approach of an asteroid this size that humans have ever known about in advance.

People in parts of Europe, Africa and Asia should be able to see it with their naked eyes on a clear night.

When Apophis was found in 2004, early estimates gave it up to a 2.7 percent chance of hitting Earth in 2029.

That was the highest risk rating ever given to an asteroid. But later observations, including radar measurements in 2021, ruled out any impact for at least the next 100 years.

Now scientists see the flyby as a rare natural experiment. Earth's gravity may stretch Apophis, shift its spin and even trigger small landslides on its surface.

ESA is planning a mission called Ramses to meet Apophis before the flyby and travel alongside it. It is set to launch in 2028, with help from Japan's space agency.

NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft, which earlier collected samples from asteroid Bennu, will arrive after the flyby. It will stir up the surface to see what lies beneath.

Studying Apophis could help us protect Earth from asteroids that are truly dangerous.

There are caveats. Missions can change, and launch dates may slip.

Exactly how much Earth will change Apophis is still uncertain. That is what the missions aim to find out.

📌 Source: European Space Agency, Planetary Defence Office (2026).