In April 2029, asteroid Apophis will pass exceptionally close to Earth—at just 20,000 miles away, closer than many satellites. The encounter may trigger significant physical changes on the asteroid’s surface due to Earth’s gravitational pull, potentially causing landslides and tremors, according to a recent study. Apophis, a 340-meter, peanut-shaped asteroid named after the ancient Egyptian deity associated with chaos, is not expected to impact Earth. However, this flyby could offer scientists a unique opportunity to observe how gravitational forces affect small celestial bodies.

New Insights into Surface Alterations

The study, currently available on the arXiv preprint database, has been accepted for publication in The Planetary Science Journal. Asteroid scientist Ronald-Louis Ballouz from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and his team conducted computational simulations of Apophis to predict the changes Earth’s gravity might induce. Ballouz notes that while meteoroids constantly weather asteroid surfaces in space, close planetary encounters can also alter an asteroid’s appearance. The gravitational pull from Earth is expected to disrupt Apophis’ surface by triggering tremors, lifting rocks, and creating visible patterns.

Predicted Surface Shifts and Landslides

The team’s models suggest that Apophis will experience surface tremors starting an hour before it reaches its closest approach to Earth, potentially dislodging boulders. Although Apophis’ own gravity is weak, this gravitational “shaking” could loft rocks briefly before they fall back, forming new surface features. Additionally, Apophis’ irregular rotation, or “tumbling,” might accelerate or slow down due to Earth’s gravitational influence. These shifts in tumbling could further destabilise rocks over time, potentially leading to gradual landslides that shape the asteroid’s surface over tens of thousands of years.

Future Observations with NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX Mission

Scientists hope to verify these findings when NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft studies Apophis in 2029. Repurposed from its earlier mission to the asteroid Bennu, OSIRIS-APEX is set to examine Apophis’ chemical composition and surface features over an 18-month mission. This research could help solve longstanding questions about how gravitational encounters refresh asteroid surfaces, providing new insights into asteroid dynamics and planetary formation processes.

Astronomers may be on the brink of uncovering a ninth hidden planet in our solar system. As theories surrounding its existence gain momentum, the hypothetical planet, often referred to as “Planet Nine,” is suspected to be located far beyond Neptune, in the Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper belt is a region filled with icy objects orbiting the Sun. Though no direct observation has been made, researchers have observed peculiar gravitational anomalies in the Kuiper Belt, suggesting the influence of an unseen, massive object.

Evidence for Planet Nine’s Existence

The potential existence of Planet Nine first gained scientific traction in 2016. It was when Michael Brown and Konstantin Batygin, professors at the California Institute of Technology, proposed that an unseen planet could explain the unusual orbits of certain Kuiper Belt objects. They theorised that the gravitational pull of this planet may be altering the paths of these distant bodies. Brown was also involved in the reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet, suggested that Planet Nine could be significantly larger than Earth, possibly ten times its mass.

Tracking the Unseen Planet

Efforts to locate Planet Nine are ongoing, with multiple observatories around the world dedicating resources to the search. Advances in telescope technology and data analysis have provided scientists with more tools to investigate this mystery, though tracking such a distant and faint object remains challenging. Astronomers are focusing on understanding the unusual orbital patterns of smaller objects in the Kuiper Belt, hoping they may eventually lead to Planet Nine’s precise location.

Anticipated Breakthroughs in Near Future

With growing advancements in observational technology and collaborations across the globe, scientists are optimistic. As new telescopes come online and data accumulates, researchers like Brown and Batygin believe that a definitive answer could emerge within the next decade. If discovered, Planet Nine would reshape our understanding of the solar system’s boundaries, marking a major scientific milestone in space exploration.

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