Asteroid Apophis: Seismic surprises at Erd Passage 2029!

Asteroid Apophis: Seismic surprises at Erd Passage 2029!

Frankfurt, Deutschland - A heavenly spectacle is imminent! The notorious asteroid "Apophis", also known as the "God of Chaos", will only rush past 31,000 kilometers past the earth in a breathtaking past - closer than many satellites! During this encounter, earthly gravity will act on the surface of the asteroid and possibly trigger "seismic events". Researchers have already gained exciting knowledge about the effects of this cosmic encounter.

a "great natural experiment"

instead of a threat, scientists see a "great natural experiment" in this event. A current study that will soon be published in the journal "The Planetary Science Journal" shows that the approach to earth could lead to remarkable activities on "apophis". These seismic events could start about an hour before the closest point of the flight and also stop, while the interior of the asteroid stabilizes. Ronald-Louis Ballouz, one of the study authors, explains that the gravity of “apophis” is only about 250,000 times lower than that of the earth, which means that even small vibrations could influence the surface.

particle vertebrae and rotary movements

The researchers are particularly excited to see whether there are any swinging particles and other dynamic phenomena during the flight. Earlier studies have shown that such seismic activities can occur on asteroids. Room probes, such as the NASA probe "Osiris-APEX", which is already on the way to "apophis", will carefully observe these fascinating processes. It is also examined whether the rotary movement of the asteroid is influenced by the proximity to the earth, which could lead to a long -term change in its surface. An exciting chapter in the research of our solar system is imminent!