An asteroid will pass closest to Earth at a distance on Thursday (01/10/2013). The asteroid named Apophis 99 942, was discovered in 2004.

Asteroid picture by fakta ilmiah

An asteroid will pass closest to Earth at a distance on Thursday (01/10/2013). The asteroid named Apophis 99 942, was discovered in 2004.



"Closest point will be reached Thursday, January 10, 2013 around 07.00 pm," said Thomas Djamaluddin, professor of astrophysics Institute of Aeronautics and Space Agency.

Thomas says, at the point of closest approach to the Earth, Apophis will be within 14.5 million kilometers.

The asteroid will not be visible from the point of view of an observer in Indonesia. While the people of Europe might be observing with a telescope, though very dim.

This asteroid passes close to Earth periodically. After this year, Apophis will pass close to Earth again in 2029 and 2036.

99942 Apophis is predicted to attract attention because it never could hit the Earth. Shortly after its discovery, astronomers can estimate the asteroid striking Earth in 2009.

What will happen? Force of the blast caused by an asteroid measuring 275 meters is 100,000 times the Hiroshima bomb.

At that time, the percentage of the collision reached 2.7 percent. However, the prediction was quickly revised after further study. There is no potential impact on the year.

A few years later, came another prediction that Apophis could comminute the Earth on 13 April 2036. Chance of collision is 1 in 45,000.

The prediction was again revised. Astronomers from Columbia University, David Helfand, as reported by EarthSky, Tuesday (01/08/2013), said the potential impact is 1:250,000, almost zero.

For the near-Earth orbit this year, Thomas said, "There is no impact whatever happens on Earth."

While some videos related to the impact of Apophis in the event of collisions in 2036 are still circulating on the Internet. If you find it, do not believe it.