On April 13, 2029, asteroid Apophis is scheduled to approach Earth, coming within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of our planet's surface, closer than some of our orbiting satellites, and passing between the Earth and the Moon. The event will mark the closest Earth flyby of an asteroid of this size that scientists knew of in advance. An asteroid the size of Apophis (370 meters, or 1,100 feet wide) is predicted to strike Earth about every 80,000 years. Astronomers classify the impact hazard connected to near-Earth objects, such as comets and asteroids, using the Torino Impact Hazard Scale. Apophis earned the record for the highest Torino rating ever (Level 4) in 2005, which alarmed astronomers who thought the asteroid could be headed for Earth collision in 2036. However, additional observations made at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, showed that there is no possibility that Apophis will impact Earth over the next 100 years. But if Apophis were to collide with our planet, what could be the effects?
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