Rare 'God of Chaos' Asteroid to Pass Close to Earth in 2029

Asteroid Apophis will come within 20,000 miles of Earth, closer than many satellites, in a historic celestial event.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:58am

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and greys depicting the complex orbital path and gravitational forces surrounding a large asteroid as it approaches a smaller planet, conveying the structural order of the solar system through precise geometric shapes and sweeping celestial spirals.As the 'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis nears Earth in 2029, astronomers prepare to study its orbit and composition in unprecedented detail.Tucson Today

The near-Earth asteroid Apophis, named after the Egyptian god of chaos, is expected to safely pass within about 20,000 miles of Earth on April 13, 2029 - closer than the distance of many satellites in geosynchronous orbit. This will be one of the closest approaches ever recorded for an object of Apophis' size, making it visible to the naked eye for observers in the Eastern Hemisphere, weather permitting.

Why it matters

Apophis was initially labeled a potentially hazardous asteroid due to the possibility of it impacting Earth in the coming decades, but astronomers have now ruled out any risk of impact for at least the next 100 years. Its close passage will provide a rare opportunity for scientists around the world to study the asteroid's physical properties and better understand its orbit and composition as a relic of the early solar system.

The details

Apophis, with a mean diameter of about 1,115 feet and a long axis of at least 1,480 feet, is a relic of the early solar system made of leftover raw material that was never part of a planet or moon. Its surface has been weathered over eons by exposure to space weather, including solar wind and cosmic rays. When Apophis passes close to Earth in 2029, it will become a member of the 'Apollo' group of asteroids that cross Earth's orbit but have wider orbits around the sun.

  • Apophis is expected to safely pass within about 20,000 miles of Earth on April 13, 2029.
  • When Apophis was first discovered in 2004, it was labeled a potentially hazardous asteroid due to the possibility of impacting Earth in 2029, 2036 or 2068.

The players

Apophis

A near-Earth asteroid named after the Egyptian god of chaos, darkness and fire. It has a mean diameter of about 1,115 feet and a long axis of at least 1,480 feet.

Roy Tucker

One of the astronomers who discovered the asteroid Apophis in 2004 at the Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona.

David Tholen

One of the astronomers who discovered the asteroid Apophis in 2004 at the Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona.

Fabrizio Bernardi

One of the astronomers who discovered the asteroid Apophis in 2004 at the Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona.

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What’s next

NASA has redirected a spacecraft to rendezvous with Apophis shortly after its close approach in 2029, while the European Space Agency is sending a spacecraft to study it.

The takeaway

The close passage of the 'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis in 2029 will provide a rare opportunity for astronomers around the world to study its physical properties and better understand its composition and orbit as a relic of the early solar system. While initially labeled a potential threat, Apophis is now known to pose no risk of impact with Earth for at least the next century.