99942 Apophis: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

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• Asteroids named from Egyptian mythology (5)
• Aten asteroids (15)
• Near-Earth asteroids (3)

Encyclopedia: 99942 Apophis

(99942) Apophis (previously known by its provisional designation 2004 MN₄) is a near-Earth asteroid that caused a brief period of concern in December 2004 because initial observations indicated a relatively large probability that it would strike the Earth in 2029. Additional observations provided improved predictions that eliminated the possibility of an impact on Earth or the Moon in 2029. However there remained a possibility that during the 2029 close encounter with Earth, Apophis would pass through a "gravitational keyhole", a precise region in space no more than about 400 meters across, that would set up a future impact on April 13, 2036. This possibility kept the asteroid at Level 1 on the Torino impact hazard scale until August 2006.

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How to say "99942 Apophis" in other languages:

	(Chinese)	小行星99942
	(Japanese)	アポフィス (小惑星)
	(German)	Apophis (Asteroid)
	(Spanish)	(99942) Apophis
	(French)	(99942) Apophis
	(Italian)	99942 Apophis