Asteroid Apophis Has The Tiniest Chance Of Hitting Earth In 2029

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In a bit of ominous news befitting a Friday the 13th : It turns out that the asteroid Apophis could have a very small chance of colliding into Earth in five years, when it is expected to make a close flyby on April 13, 2029 − yes, a Friday the 13th. But we'd have to be extremely unlucky.

That's according to new findings from astronomer Paul Wiegert , who previously ruled out the possibility of a collision altogether in another study in March . But Wiegert, of Western University in Canada, apparently decided to revisit the possibility of Apophis being struck by small space rocks like the ones that frequently and unpredictably strike Earth.

If that were to happen – and that's a big "if" – a remote chance exists that Apophis could be sent careening into Earth, according to a new study published in August in The Planetary Science Journal .

Astronomers have long had their eye on the notorious Apophis, which was initially believed to pose a serious threat to Earth upon its discovery in 2004.

In the new study, Weigert used computer models to simulate the likelihood of an undiscovered asteroid hitting Apophis off its course within the next five years and sending it onto a doomed encounter with Earth. Wiegert also analyzed what size an object would need to be to knock Apophis off course and put it on a trajectory to crash into Earth beyond 2029.