NASA eliminated the risk of collisions between Apophis and Earth

Scientists Steve Chesley and Paul Chodas at NASA's Jet Engine Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, say Apophis is 2.5 times the size of a football field. This new result is presented officially at the session of the Astronomical Society - Planetary Science Division in Puerto Rico on October 8.

Chesley said: 'Apophis is one of the celestial bodies that has attracted the attention of public opinion since its discovery in 2004. Modern calculation techniques and new data sources show the possibility of Apophis colliding. into Earth on April 13, 2036, from 1/45000 to 4/100 million. '

Much of the data source said Apophis's trajectory was obtained by observing Dave Tholen and his colleagues at the Hawaii Astronomical Academy in Manoa. Tholen worked hard to study hundreds of previously unpublished photographs, taken by the University of Hawaii telescope, with a length of 2.2m (approximately 88 inches) near the top of Mount Mauna Kea.

Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004 (Photo: UH / IA)

Tholen made progressive measurements of the position of Apophis in the photographs. This allowed Tholen to provide Chesley and Chodas with new data that was more accurate than previous measurements of the Apophis object. Chesley's calculations use the measurement from Bok telescope 2.3 meters (equivalent to 90 inches) of the Steward Observatory, located at the top of Kitt, Arizona State, USA and the Arecibo Observatory on Puerto Rico island.

This information provides a more accurate prediction of Apophis's trajectory in the second half of this century . It is forecasted in 2068, there are about 3,100,000 possibilities of the Earth being able to collide with an object. While previous calculations could not eliminate the possibility of an Earth collision in 2029 and 2036 due to insufficient data, it is now possible to eliminate the risk of collision in 2068 with new information. collected about celestial body Apophis.

Initially, it was estimated that 2.7% of the possibility Apophis would hit Earth in 2029. Subsequent observations eliminated this risk. However, this object is still able to approach the Earth on Friday, 13.4.2029, with a height of not less than 29450 km (18300 miles) compared to the Earth's surface.

Don Yeomans, director of the Near-Earth Research Program, Jet Engine Laboratory said: 'The information that we have just confirmed is that Apophis is a celestial body that provides good research opportunities for faculty members. learn. It should not be viewed as something scary. The public can follow our follow-up studies on Apophis and other Earth-flying objects on the AsteroidWatch website. '

The science industry predicts celestial orbits based on the physical model of the solar system, including the effects of gravity of the sun, moon, other planets and the three largest celestial bodies.

NASA uses both ground and space telescopes to detect and track celestial bodies and comets that fly through Earth. The Earth Near Object Observation Program, often called 'Spaceguard', detects these objects, describes their subsets and draws their trajectory patterns to determine whether there are any potential risks. Anything for Earth?

Jet Laboratory (JPL) runs the Office of NASA's Near-Earth Objects Research Program. JPL is a branch of the Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York operates the Arecibo Observatory under a cooperation agreement with the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia, USA.