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"God of chaos" asteroid will pass close to Earth in 3 years, NASA says
April 15, 2026 / 3:43 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Asteroid Apophis, about the size of three football fields, will pass near Earth on April 13, 2029.
- It will come within approximately 20,000 miles of Earth's surface, closer than many satellites.
- NASA states there is no danger to Earth or anything on it, and no risk of impact for at least 100 years.
- The event offers a rare opportunity for scientists to study the asteroid up close.
- People in the Eastern Hemisphere may be able to see it with the naked eye, weather permitting.
- Earth's gravity during the flyby could potentially cause minor surface changes on Apophis.
- Apophis was discovered in 2004 and is believed to be made of early solar system materials.