The 'god of chaos' asteroid Apophis is set to have a close encounter with Earth in 2029. Experts say that the peanut-shaped asteroid will undergo physical transformation following its journey. It will experience landslides and earthquakes that will alter its landscape dramatically.

The 1,100-foot-long asteroid was first discovered in 2021, and since then it has intrigued astronomers who have been constantly studying it. Apophis was initially feared to be on a collision course with Earth, but now experts say it has a much smaller chance of hitting the planet than earlier feared.&nbsp;

It will come as close as 32,000 kilometres to Earth on April 13, 2029. While Earth itself won't be affected, the planet's gravitational pull will lead rocks on the asteroid to tumble and toss around, altering the rocky visitor.&nbsp;

Ronald-Louis Ballouz, an asteroid scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory researched the implications of the flyby on Apophis. The study is currently available on the arXiv preprint database and has been accepted for publication in The Planetary Science Journal.

He told Live Science that asteroids normally face constant bombardment by tiny meteoroids in a process called space weathering. However, asteroids that pass close to planets like Earth do not have weathered surfaces. What happens to it?

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/colossal-space-reservoir-containing-water-100-trillion-times-of-earths-oceans-discovered-773082">Colossal space reservoir containing water 100 trillion times of Earth's oceans discovered</a>

Experts believe that a planet's gravity pulls the rocks from the surface, revealing a smoother underlayer. Using computer models, Ballouz and other researchers created a specimen based on another two-lobed asteroid, Itokawa. They simulated the models moving towards Earth and noted all the changes that happened in the process.&nbsp;

<h2>Tremors and landslides on Apophis</h2>

The team found that Earth will shape Apophis in two ways during its 2029 encounter. Quakes will start to shake the surface of the asteroid around an hour before Apophis reaches its closest point to Earth. These tremors will continue for some more time after it has left Earth's region.

"Apophis' gravity is about 250,000 times smaller than Earth's. So, we think that events of much smaller magnitude could plausibly shake things up on its surface," he said.

Some rocks will get uprooted and escape the asteroids, while others will fall back creating noticeable patterns on their surface.&nbsp;

The other change will be in the speed of its rotation. Asteroids tumble through space since they don't have a fixed axis. When Apophis comes in contact with Earth's gravity, it will either start to spin more quickly or more slowly.

This will destabilise the sloping faces of surface rocks and can potentially trigger landslides, resulting in changes that will occur over tens of thousands of years.

NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission will study Apophis during its 2029 encounter and note the changes that have occurred over a period of 18 months.

The 'god of chaos' asteroid Apophis is set to have a close encounter with Earth in 2029. Experts say that the peanut-shaped asteroid will undergo physical transformation following its journey.

The 'god of chaos' asteroid Apophis is set to have a close encounter with Earth in 2029. Experts say that the peanut-shaped asteroid will undergo physical transformation following its journey. It will experience landslides and earthquakes that will alter its landscape dramatically. The 1,100-foot-long asteroid was first discovered in 2021, and since then it has intrigued astronomers who have been constantly studying it. Apophis was initially feared to be on a collision course with Earth, but now experts say it has a much smaller chance of hitting the planet than earlier feared. It will come as close as 32,000 kilometres to Earth on April 13, 2029. While Earth itself won't be affected, the planet's gravitational pull will lead rocks on the asteroid to tumble and toss around, altering the rocky visitor. Ronald-Louis Ballouz, an asteroid scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory researched the implications of the flyby on Apophis. The study is currently available on the arXiv preprint database and has been accepted for publication in The Planetary Science Journal. He told Live Science that asteroids normally face constant bombardment by tiny meteoroids in a process called space weathering. However, asteroids that pass close to planets like Earth do not have weathered surfaces. What happens to it? Also Read: Colossal space reservoir containing water 100 trillion times of Earth's oceans discovered Experts believe that a planet's gravity pulls the rocks from the surface, revealing a smoother underlayer. Using computer models, Ballouz and other researchers created a specimen based on another two-lobed asteroid, Itokawa. They simulated the models moving towards Earth and noted all the changes that happened in the process. Tremors and landslides on Apophis The team found that Earth will shape Apophis in two ways during its 2029 encounter. Quakes will start to shake the surface of the asteroid around an hour before Apophis reaches its closest point to Earth. These tremors will continue for some more time after it has left Earth's region. "Apophis' gravity is about 250,000 times smaller than Earth's. So, we think that events of much smaller magnitude could plausibly shake things up on its surface," he said. Some rocks will get uprooted and escape the asteroids, while others will fall back creating noticeable patterns on their surface. The other change will be in the speed of its rotation. Asteroids tumble through space since they don't have a fixed axis. When Apophis comes in contact with Earth's gravity, it will either start to spin more quickly or more slowly. This will destabilise the sloping faces of surface rocks and can potentially trigger landslides, resulting in changes that will occur over tens of thousands of years. NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission will study Apophis during its 2029 encounter and note the changes that have occurred over a period of 18 months.

What will happen to Apophis during its close call with Earth in 2029? A study answers the question

Four asteroids will make their closest approaches to Earth on Thursday (Oct 24) one after the other within a span of 12 hours. Two of these asteroids were discovered just this month, one of them only about a week back. Of the "potentially hazardous" space rocks, one is as tall as a skyscraper. Do they pose any threat to Earth?

The first asteroid to fly past the planet will be 2015 HM1, the smallest of the four space rocks. It measures around 100 feet across and will be at its nearest point to Earth at around 0:36 am ET, or 10:06 am IST. As per NASA's Asteroid Watch dashboard, it will be 5.5 million kilometres from us.

The second asteroid is 2024 TP17 which is roughly 170-foot wide. It will make its closest approach at around 4:20 am ET, or 1:50 pm IST and will be at a distance of 4.7 million km from our planet.

The final two asteroids — 2002 NV16 and 2024 TR6 — will make their closest approaches within just four minutes of each other.

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The other two asteroids will zoom past Earth within just four minutes of each other. Space rock 2002 NV16 and 2024 TR6 will take back-to-back trips past our planet.&nbsp;

The 2002 NV16 asteroid is the largest of the four and measures 580 feet across. It will reach a minimum distance of 4.5 million km at around 11:47 a.m. ET, or 9:17 pm IST. The fourth asteroid, the 150-foot-wide 2024 TR6, will follow soon after. It will come within 5.6 million km of Earth at 11:51 am ET, or 9:21 pm IST.&nbsp;

Asteroids 2024 TR6 and 2024 TP17 were discovered on Oct 7 and Oct 12, respectively.

<h2>Two of the asteroids will return</h2>

Astronomers discover almost 2,000 near-Earth objects every year, most of them just as they are about to come close to the planet. Asteroids classified as "potentially hazardous" are those whose orbits bring them within 48 million km of Earth.&nbsp;

NASA regularly checks for asteroids that might pose a threat to Earth. Most of these objects aren't big enough or don't come close enough to cause damage. However, 2002 NV16 is quite massive and if it were on a trajectory to impact Earth, it could wipe out a large city besides affecting the entire planet.

Notably, 2024 TR6 will return on Aug 5, 2039, and fly past Earth at a much closer distance of 1.9 million km. Asteroids 2024 TP17 will also make a comeback on Oct 25, 2040, and make a close approach at a minimum distance of 2.1 million km. 
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Four asteroids will make their closest approaches to Earth on Thursday (Oct 24) one after the other within a span of 12 hours. Two of these asteroids were discovered just this month, one of them only about a week back.

Four asteroids will make their closest approaches to Earth on Thursday (Oct 24) one after the other within a span of 12 hours. Two of these asteroids were discovered just this month, one of them only about a week back. Of the "potentially hazardous" space rocks, one is as tall as a skyscraper. Do they pose any threat to Earth? The first asteroid to fly past the planet will be 2015 HM1, the smallest of the four space rocks. It measures around 100 feet across and will be at its nearest point to Earth at around 0:36 am ET, or 10:06 am IST. As per NASA's Asteroid Watch dashboard, it will be 5.5 million kilometres from us. The second asteroid is 2024 TP17 which is roughly 170-foot wide. It will make its closest approach at around 4:20 am ET, or 1:50 pm IST and will be at a distance of 4.7 million km from our planet. The final two asteroids — 2002 NV16 and 2024 TR6 — will make their closest approaches within just four minutes of each other. Also Read: The 2,000-kilometre wide crater basin on the moon is way older The other two asteroids will zoom past Earth within just four minutes of each other. Space rock 2002 NV16 and 2024 TR6 will take back-to-back trips past our planet. The 2002 NV16 asteroid is the largest of the four and measures 580 feet across. It will reach a minimum distance of 4.5 million km at around 11:47 a.m. ET, or 9:17 pm IST. The fourth asteroid, the 150-foot-wide 2024 TR6, will follow soon after. It will come within 5.6 million km of Earth at 11:51 am ET, or 9:21 pm IST. Asteroids 2024 TR6 and 2024 TP17 were discovered on Oct 7 and Oct 12, respectively. Two of the asteroids will return Astronomers discover almost 2,000 near-Earth objects every year, most of them just as they are about to come close to the planet. Asteroids classified as "potentially hazardous" are those whose orbits bring them within 48 million km of Earth. NASA regularly checks for asteroids that might pose a threat to Earth. Most of these objects aren't big enough or don't come close enough to cause damage. However, 2002 NV16 is quite massive and if it were on a trajectory to impact Earth, it could wipe out a large city besides affecting the entire planet. Notably, 2024 TR6 will return on Aug 5, 2039, and fly past Earth at a much closer distance of 1.9 million km. Asteroids 2024 TP17 will also make a comeback on Oct 25, 2040, and make a close approach at a minimum distance of 2.1 million km.

Four asteroids to approach Earth in a span of 12 hours today. Two of them will return

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What will happen to Apophis during its close call with Earth in 2029? A study answers the question

Four asteroids to approach Earth in a span of 12 hours today. Two of them will return