In about five years, an asteroid named Apophis will pass close to Earth, becoming visible without needing a telescope. NASA plans to send their spacecraft to meet the asteroid on April 13, 2029. A team from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg has come up with three ideas for satellites to study Apophis during this unique event. This is important because such close encounters with large asteroids are rare. Apophis, discovered in 2004, was previously considered a potential threat due to its size and trajectory. However, recent observations show that it will not collide with Earth for at least 100 years. The upcoming rendezvous will provide valuable scientific data about the asteroid and the solar system. The team is considering different satellite concepts for this mission, which could also pave the way for future asteroid studies. The project will continue until 2025, exploring possibilities for further space missions.
Vocabulary List:
- Asteroid (noun): A rocky celestial body that orbits the sun.
- Telescope (noun): An optical instrument used for viewing distant objects.
- Satellite (noun): An object that orbits a larger celestial body.
- Encounter (noun): A meeting or unexpected meeting with someone or something.
- Rendezvous (noun): A meeting at an agreed time and place.
- Trajectory (noun): The path followed by a projectile or an object moving under the action of given forces.
