The giant meteorite called “99942 Apophis” will fly past Earth at a distance of about 31,600 kilometers. This distance corresponds to a point even closer than the communications satellites in orbit.
Richard Binzel, a planetary scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, emphasized that for the first time in human history, the passage of an asteroid near Earth could be predicted so accurately.
Experts say the meteorite won't glide as quickly as a comet, but will be visible for hours as a bright spot moving slowly across the sky.
Can be observed with the naked eye
According to the visibility maps presented at the scientific workshop in Italy, about 7.6 billion people will be able to witness this moment if weather conditions are favorable.
The meteorite can be tracked with the naked eye for about seven hours as it travels from the Australian sky to the North Atlantic.
The meteorite is expected to reach its brightest position over Cameroon in Africa; Billions of people across a vast geographical area spanning Africa, Asia, eastern South America and parts of Europe will be able to see it easily.
Does not pose a threat to the world
When the meteorite was first discovered in 2004, the odds of hitting Earth in 2029 were calculated to be 1 in 37, causing great concern. But more than two decades of precise observations and recent data from NASA have conclusively proven that Apophis poses no threat to our planet, at least for the next century.
Scientists see this close flyby as a unique opportunity to study the effects of Earth's gravity on an asteroid.
It is estimated that the gravity exerted by Earth during the transition will pull the meteorite into a new orbit around the Sun, which may cause landslides on its surface.
Global observatories have already begun preparations to observe this rare space event.
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