Eiffel Tower-sized asteroid Apophis to pass closer to Earth than many satellites in 2029, NASA says
The asteroid Apophis, roughly the size of the Eiffel Tower, will pass about 20,000 miles from Earth on April 13, 2029, coming closer than many orbiting satellites. Initially thought to pose an impact risk in 2029, 2036, or 2068, further observations have ruled out any collision threat for at least a century. NASA and global observatories plan to study the event extensively, including with the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft, formerly OSIRIS-REx.
- ▪Apophis is a large asteroid approximately the size of the Eiffel Tower.
- ▪It will pass around 20,000 miles from Earth's surface on April 13, 2029, closer than many satellites.
- ▪NASA has confirmed there is no risk of Apophis impacting Earth for at least 100 years.
- ▪The asteroid was discovered in 2004 by astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi.
- ▪NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, renamed OSIRIS-APEX, is en route to study Apophis after its Earth flyby.
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Spaceflight Eiffel Tower-sized asteroid Apophis to pass closer to Earth than many satellites in 2029, NASA says When discovered in 2004, Apophis appeared to pose an impact threat in 2029, 2036, or 2068 before study ruled it out By Louis Casiano Fox News Published May 4, 2026 5:13pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video NASA administrator Jared Isaacman discusses Artemis II mission and future of space exploration NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman joins Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer on 'America's Newsroom' to discuss the triumphant Artemis II mission, emphasizing America's renewed focus on lunar exploration.
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