2029年，“毁神星”将与地球擦肩而过

Core Points - The asteroid Apophis, also known as "destroyer star," will make a close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029, with a distance of 32,000 kilometers, closer than geostationary satellites [1][2] - Initial predictions in 2004 indicated a 2.7% chance of collision, but subsequent observations have confirmed that the risk is negligible [2] - The event has garnered attention from multiple space agencies, including NASA, ESA, and JAXA, which plan to send probes for research [1][2] Group 1: Observational Opportunities - The close approach of Apophis presents a unique opportunity for scientific observation, with the potential for visibility to the naked eye in Europe and Africa [2] - The United Nations has designated 2029 as the "International Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defense Year" to emphasize the significance of this event [2] - Ground-based radar and other observational methods will be employed to measure Apophis's size, shape, and trajectory [2] Group 2: NASA's OSIRIS-APEX Mission - NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft is en route to Apophis, building on the previous OSIRIS-REx mission that collected samples from the asteroid Bennu [3][4] - The spacecraft will begin distant observations on April 2, 2029, and will closely monitor the gravitational effects of Earth on Apophis during its closest approach [4] - Following the close approach, the spacecraft will enter orbit around Apophis for an 18-month exploration mission [4] Group 3: European and Japanese Missions - ESA's "Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety" (RAMSES) is proposed to monitor changes in Apophis's rotation and potential seismic activity due to Earth's tidal forces [5][6] - JAXA's DESTINY+ mission aims to study the active asteroid "Didymos" but will also make a brief visit to Apophis in early 2029 [6] - A proposed experiment, the Apophis Crater Experiment (ACE), aims to observe the effects of a collision with Apophis to understand its internal structure and mechanical properties [6]