The Indian Space Research Institute (ISRO) has reported that a 335 meter long asteroid is moving towards Earth. The name of this asteroid is Apophis, which was discovered in 2004. Asteroid Apophis will pass near Earth on 13 April 2029. During this time, its minimum distance from Earth will be 32 thousand km. However, at present, the US space agency NASA has ruled out the possibility of it colliding with Earth. When Apophis passes near Earth, NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will study it. This asteroid is also known as the Egyptian god ‘God of Chaos’. Earlier there was a possibility of collision in 2029
Asteroid Apophis was discovered by America’s Kitt Peak National Observatory in 2004. Then it was expected that it could collide with Earth in 2029. Its size is about 335 meters i.e. 1100 feet. It is considered one of the most dangerous objects near the Earth. Later, its continuous tracking and high resolution radar data from the Goldstone Deep Space Communication and the Greek Bank Telescope helped in mapping its orbit. After this, the danger associated with it reduced. Apophis is an S type asteroid. It is made of silicate material, which contains nickel and iron. Its peanut-like shape attracts scientists to study it. ISRO is also tracking
ISRO has added a new domain to protect the Earth from asteroids and other things present in space. It has been named Planetary Defense. Talking to NDTV, ISRO Chairman S Somnath said that our Network for Space Object Tracking (NETRA) system is continuously monitoring Apophis. Somnath said that India will cooperate with other countries of the world to deal with any external threat. ISRO Chief said that the attack of a large asteroid is a threat to the existence of entire humanity. We have only one Earth to live on. Read this news too… Russia will build a nuclear power plant on the moon: India-China want to be included, target to build it by 2035; this will help the Moon mission Russia is working on a plan to build a nuclear power plant on the moon. This power plant is a part of the partnership between Russia and China under which both these countries are planning to build a base on the moon. With its help, the energy needs of the base to be built on the moon will be met. Along with Russia and China, now India also wants to be included in the planning of this plant. Russian news agency TASS has given this information quoting Alexey Likhachev, head of Russia’s State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosatom. Read the full news here…
