A giant asteroid named the 'God of Chaos' is set to pass by our planet closer than some satellites and scientists have once again revised their predictions as to whether it could hit us.
99942 Apophis - also known as the God of Chaos - is a peanut-shaped asteroid measuring a whopping 340 metres wide.
On 13 April 2029, Apophis is set to pass by Earth within an estimated 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometres) of its surface.
But scientists have differing opinions as to what the chances are it could actually hit us.
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While Apophis' current trajectory isn't set to crash into Earth, a study - published last month in The Planetary Science journal - has found that an object as small as two-feet could change this.
Canadian astronomer Paul Wiegert and co-author Benjamin Hyatt looked into the odds of the asteroid colliding with another object causing it to hurtle our way.
They found that a relatively small object of around 0.6 metres (two-feet) could be enough to shift the asteroid's trajectories, leading it to collide with our planet at a later date.
And, for 'God of chaos' to hit Earth in 2029, the object it collided with would have to be around 3.4 metres in size.
Fortunately for us, the scientists say that the odds of this happening are 'exceptionally low' (around 2.7 percent, to be precise).
Wiegert explained: "The odds of an unseen small asteroid deflecting Apophis enough to direct it into a collision with Earth in 2029 are approximately 10-8.
"Given that only 5 percent of such impulses are in the correct direction to generate an Earth impact, the overall probability of a small impact directing Apophis into a collision with the Earth is less than one in two billion."
However, NASA have weighed in on the potential event following investigations into the asteroid last year.
In a statement, they said: "The intrigue of Apophis is its exceptionally close approach of our planet on April 13, 2029.
"Although Apophis will not hit Earth during this encounter or in the foreseeable future, the pass in 2029 will bring the asteroid within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometres) of the surface – closer than some satellites, and close enough that it could be visible to the naked eye in the Eastern Hemisphere.
"Scientists estimate that asteroids of Apophis’ size, about 367 yards across (about 340 metres), come this close to Earth only once every 7,500 years."
Topics: NASA, Science, Space, World News
Bec Oakes