NASA announced this week that Earth will remain safe from the threat of an asteroid-specific impact for at least the next 100 years.
According to the space agency, new observations from the telescopes have ruled out the possibility of 1,100 feet. the asteroid “Apophis” came into contact with Earth in 2068, The Associated Press reported.
NASA previously cited concern that Apophis could seriously approach Earth in 2029 and 2036 before recently ruling out these possibilities.
Now, according to the newspaper, Apophis has been officially removed from the agency’s asteroid “risk list”.
“A 2068 impact is no longer in the realm of possibility, and our calculations show no risk of impact for at least the next 100 years,” said Davide Farnocchia of the Center for Object Studies on Earth. NASA.
Earlier this month, scientists were able to refine the orbit of the space rock around the sun using radar observations. According to reports, Apophis will reach less than 20,000 kilometers from Earth in April 2029 and will allow astronomers to see it better.
“When I started working with asteroids after college, Apophis was the kid on the dangerous asteroid poster,” Farnocchia said.
“There is a certain sense of satisfaction at seeing him removed from the list of risks.”