Asteroid Apophis: How Earth's Gravity May Reshape It

Get ready for a cosmic shake-up! In 2029, an asteroid named Apophis will zoom past Earth, and scientists think it might get a makeover. This space rock, named after the Egyptian god of chaos, is set to pass within 20, 000 miles of our planet. That's closer than some satellites! While it won't hit Earth, the close encounter could cause some changes. You see, asteroids that get near planets often show fresh surfaces. Scientists want to know why. Using computer models, a team led by Ronald-Louis Ballouz from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory found two key processes that could reshape Apophis. First, Earth's gravity might trigger tremors on the asteroid. These quakes could dislodge rocks and create unique patterns. Second, Earth's pull might change Apophis' tumbling motion, leading to landslides over time. "Apophis' gravity is super weak compared to Earth's, " Ballouz said. "So, even small events could cause big changes. " NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission will watch these changes. The spacecraft will spend 18 months studying Apophis during and after its Earth encounter. This could help answer long-standing questions about how planets reshape asteroid surfaces. This research might also advance our understanding of how the solar system works and how asteroids evolve. It's like watching a real-life makeover in space!