The asteroid Apophis, named for the Greek variant of the god of chaos, is a near-Earth heavenly body first discovered in 2004. It was initially believed to have a 1-in-37 chance of colliding with Earth in 2029, but recent studies have shown that an impact is unlikely for that year. However, it was also reported that the asteroid will pass very close to the Earth's surface on April 13, 2029. Scientists estimate that it will be about 29, 450 kilometers from our atmosphere. On the other hand, these new calculations still cannot rule out encounters in 2036 and 2068. While the scientists at NASA perceive the asteroid to be more of a great opportunity for space research, the Russians feel that it is necessary to take active steps in preventing a collision.
