science βοΈ Asteroid flyby near Earth raises debris concerns
Asteroid 99942 Apophis will pass within 32,000 kilometers of Earth in April 2029. Scientists from the Italian National Research Council are concerned about human-made space debris in geosynchronous orbit. Simulations showed a small but real possibility of debris hitting Apophis before observation missions. This impact wouldn't change the orbit significantly, but it could confuse data interpretation. Researchers hope this flyby motivates better tracking of high-altitude space junk. π°οΈ