Could Apophis, the Giant Asteroid, Be Diverted from Hitting Earth?

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SUMMARY

Apophis, a 390-meter wide asteroid, is on a potential collision course with Earth, with a possible impact date in 2036. NASA estimates that an impact would release over 100,000 times the energy of the Hiroshima nuclear blast, affecting thousands of square kilometers and causing global atmospheric disturbances. Scientists are urging governments to develop strategies to divert Apophis, as the technology required may take decades to mature. The asteroid is currently rated a one on the Torino scale, indicating a low risk of collision.

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It's called Apophis. It's 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time

Scientists call for plans to change asteroid's path Developing technology could take decades

Alok Jha
Wednesday December 7, 2005
The Guardian


In Egyptian myth, Apophis was the ancient spirit of evil and destruction, a demon that was determined to plunge the world into eternal darkness.

A fitting name, astronomers reasoned, for a menace now hurtling towards Earth from outerspace. Scientists are monitoring the progress of a 390-metre wide asteroid discovered last year that is potentially on a collision course with the planet, and are imploring governments to decide on a strategy for dealing with it.

Nasa has estimated that an impact from Apophis, which has an outside chance of hitting the Earth in 2036, would release more than 100,000 times the energy released in the nuclear blast over Hiroshima. Thousands of square kilometres would be directly affected by the blast but the whole of the Earth would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.

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