The teams findings are set to publish inThe Planetary Science Journaland are currentlyhostedon the preprint server arXiv.
This aspect of the teams finding is compelling, because scientists can learn plenty from the interiors of asteroids.
Like Oumuamua, Apophis is expected to swing by Earth.
An artist’s concept of Apophis.Illustration: The Planetary Society
Earlier this year, space companies including Blue Originproposed missionsto capitalize on the asteroids brush with Earth.
But forget mission concepts, for a momenttheres already one mission heading off to rendezvous with Apophis.
If itwereto hit Earthwhich it wontApophis footprint would fit neatly inside Manhattans Battery Park (as shown above).
An artist’s concept showing Apophis’ size relative to Lower Manhattan. Illustration: The Planetary Society
The explosionreleased energy equivalent to approximately 500 kilotons of TNT, causing a bright flash and a powerful shockwave.
The Chelyabinsk asteroid was just 66 feet across (20 meters)about 17 times smaller than Apophis.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
As for the Moon, not so much.
