Apophis 2029: What Would Happen if It Struck Earth?

Asteroid 99942 Apophis is a 370-meter-wide space rock that will make one of the closest flybys of Earth ever recorded when it passes within 32,000 km of our planet in April 2029—closer than some satellites. Originally feared to be a potential impact threat, Apophis has since been ruled out for collision, but its passage offers a once-in-a-lifetime scientific opportunity to study near-Earth asteroids up close. This ancient fragment of the solar system is more than a celestial curiosity; it’s a wake-up call about planetary defense, orbital dynamics, and the unpredictable dance of cosmic objects.