The asteroid discovered in 2004 (considered one of the most dangerous for civilization), which scientists baptized as “Apophis” will pass, in principle, skimming our planet next Friday, April 13, 2029 . According to new calculations by astronomers, the space rock is three football fields wide and has a mass of more than 46 million tons, but it is predicted to pass at a distance of at least 35,000 kilometers from Earth , which is not expected. it would pose a collision hazard.
However, a new study claims that the effect of our gravity would cause small avalanches of rocks from the asteroid . Just like the Moon pushes and pulls the oceans (tides), asteroids are also susceptible to that force of our planet’s tides. Current estimates suggest that the asteroid is not a solid mass of rock but rather a giant group of rocks , which would confirm this possible shower of space debris.
To demonstrate this hypothesis, a team of researchers from the University of Maryland (USA) has developed a computer model that has allowed them to perform a virtual simulation taking into account both the size of the asteroid and its gravity, the force of the tides of the Earth, the forces of inertia, the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the asteroid as well as other similar effects. The simulation resulted in Earth’s tidal forces being strong enough to cause small avalanches of rocks from the asteroid .
According to the calculations of astrophysicists, this spectacle will be almost imperceptible as well as gradual . “They will move very slowly because gravity is very weak on this asteroid. Perfectly we can calmly have a whole meal before the avalanche ends. This is a very smooth event, ”explains study co-author Derek Richardson.
These disturbances in the asteroid will cause a small wear on the particles on its surface, so its passage through Earth will be a kind of spatial “peeling” for it. What we will be able to see in 2029 and also with the naked eye, will be a moderately bright point of light moving rapidly through the sky .
