Apophis to skim Earth in 2029, unlocking new asteroid science

Earth’s giant near-Earth asteroid Apophis, about a quarter-mile long, will pass within about 20,000 miles of Earth on April 13, 2029—the closest approach of a large known asteroid—offering a rare chance to study its surface and motion as NASA and ESA prepare dedicated observations (OSIRIS-APEX and Ramses) while the initial risk of impact has been ruled out for at least a century.