Asteroid with impact more devastating than biggest nuclear bomb to come close to Earth in 2029

An asteroid as big as the Eiffel Tower is projected to sweep near the Earth in April 2029, according to scientists coming from Russia.

The asteroid named after the God of chaos, Apophis, will come within 39,000km (24,000) of the Earth's surface – the closest encounter of the planet with a rock as big as its size, said the Russian emergencies ministry, news agency Sputnik reported. 

It is estimated that Apophis  has a diameter of about 340 metres (1,115). With its massive size, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration describes the rock as  “one of the most hazardous asteroids that could impact Earth.”

But the good news is, scientists said that it is impossible for Apophis to head towards the Earth and even the international space stations. 

However, the Russian ministry's researchers said that if ever the asteroid hit the Earth, it would release energy equal to 1,717 megatons which is 30 times more devastating than the Soviet Tsar Bomba, the largest nuclear bomb tested in 1961.

They added that the direction of Apophis would be much clearer as 2029 approaches.

Source: ABS-CBN News