Apophis 'God of Chaos' Asteroid is speeding up in its journey towards Earth

Recently, researchers at University of Hawaii Institute for Astromy (IfA) revealed that Apophis asteroid is approaching earth at a great velocity. Apophis asteroid, named after God of Chaos is getting pushed around by sunlight and it reportedly under influence of Yarkovsky effect. Apophis was originally named Asteroid 2068 by NASA as it was supposed to approach earth in 2068. But re is a high probability that it might reach earth before 2068 due to Yarkovsky acceleration. Read on to kw more about Apophis asteroid.

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Apophis size: How big is asteroid?

A report in NASA’s official website has revealed that Apophis asteroid is approximately size of two-and-a-half football fields. potential impact of asteroid will be equivalent to 880 million tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT) exploding at same time. NASA calculates that this will be 65,000 times more destructive than Hiroshima nuclear disaster.

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Will Apophis hit Earth?

NASA has revealed that as a result of acceleration of its speed, instead of reaching Earth by 2068, Apophis asteroid will be reaching Earth on April 13, 2029. It will be near-earth object n as it will come as close as 31,200 kilometres (19,400 mi) above Earth's surface. But it is highly unlikely that 2068 asteroid will hit earth.

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What is Yarkovsky effect?

According to NASA, Yarkovsky effect happens where sunlight heats up dayside of an asteroid and as asteroid moves and turns, heat is released by its night side. This release can result in a small thrust, a lot of which combined can possibly change direction of asteroid in question. In fact, NASA’s endeavour to collect a sample from Asteroid Bennu is one of ongoing efforts to understand full effects of Yarkovsky effect.

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How big was asteroid that killed disaurs?

Ar report in National Geographic reveals that 66 million years ago a 7.5-mile-wide asteroid crashed into ocean near what is w port town of Chicxulub, Mexico.  massive impact brought of disaurs to an abrupt end and wiped out vast majority of iconic beasts. It also wiped out about three-quarters of all life on Earth.

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