An asteroid the size of three football fields will pass near Earth in three years, giving scientists a rare chance to study a colossal space rock from close range.Named Apophis — after the ancient Egyptian deity known as the “god of chaos” — the asteroid is expected to zoom past the planet on April 13, 2029, according to NASA. It will come within about 20,000 miles of Earth’s surface, which is closer than many orbiting satellites, the agency said. The highest satellites typically orbit around 22,000 miles above the equator.Scientists consider Apophis to be “a potentially hazardous asteroid,” but NASA has reassured the public that it will safely clear Earth during its 2029 passage. After years of monitoring, scientists say they’re confident that there’s no risk of Earth impact for at least 100 years.AdvertisementAdvertisement”There is no danger to Earth, to anyone or anything living on it, or to astronauts or satellites in space,” the agency said. “But the event is an amazing and totally unprecedented opportunity to learn much more about Apophis and similar near-Earth asteroids.”This screengrab, taken from an animation created by NASA, shows the asteroid Apophis’ close approach with Earth in 2029. / Credit: NASAPeople on the ground in the Eastern Hemisphere will be able to observe the asteroid with their own eyes, weather permitting, according to NASA.It’s extremely uncommon for an asteroid as large as Apophis to pass as close to Earth. NASA estimates such events happen once every few thousand years on average. If that estimate is correct, then the asteroid’s 2029 flyby will be the first of its kind i …
