👀 In 2029, you will be able to see Apophis with the naked eye: here is where to observe the asteroid

On April 13, 2029, an extraordinary event will take place: the asteroid (99942) Apophis will skim past Earth at a distance of only 19,630 miles (31,600 km), closer than geostationary satellites. This skyscraper-sized space rock will become visible to the naked eye for a large portion of humanity.

Its trajectory is perfectly known and poses no danger, offering a rare opportunity to observe an asteroid up close.


Apophis' visibility will begin over Australia. The asteroid will resemble a bright point of light moving slowly across the sky, roughly as fast as the width of the full Moon every minute. The show will last about seven hours, ending over the North Atlantic.

Nearly 3.9 billion people will be able to see it without any instrument. The sky must be clear and light pollution low for optimal viewing.

This flyby is a rare scientific opportunity. Earth's gravity will alter the asteroid's orbit around the Sun without creating any future danger. Tidal forces may also compress and stretch the rock, triggering landslides or exposing materials previously hidden deep inside. Researchers do not yet know the extent of these effects and intend to observe it closely.


Asteroid Apophis was discovered in 2004, sparking fear: a 1-in-37 chance of impact in 2029. Precise observations have since ruled out any collision for at least a hundred years. Today, scientists confidently repeat: "Apophis will safely pass near Earth."

Telescopes from the Canary Islands, among others, will be trained on the asteroid. "We are going to learn a lot, whatever happens," said a MIT planetary scientist. Whether the asteroid reacts to Earth's gravity or not, every piece of data collected will be valuable.