Asteroid Apophis Will Not Hit Earth in 2036: NASA

NASA scientists have confirmed that the Apophis asteroid, deemed to pass Earth in 2036, will not cause any impact on the planet.

Apophis, named after an Egyptian demon, was first discovered in 2004. The asteroid was nicknamed "doomsday asteroid" by media, after initial reports surfaced that there was a 2.7 percent possibility that the space rock would impact Earth when it makes a flyby on April 13, 2029.

But latest observations denied the possibility of an Earth impact. However, scientists had mentioned there was a remote possibility that the asteroid would strike Earth when it makes another approach in 2036.

On Thursday, NASA scientists ruled out the Earth impact in 2036 after analyzing updated information obtained by NASA-supported telescopes in 2011 and 2012, and data received from asteroid's distant flyby Jan. 9.

"With the new data provided by the Magdalena Ridge [New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology] and the Pan-STARRS [Univ. of Hawaii] optical observatories, along with very recent data provided by the Goldstone Solar System Radar, we have effectively ruled out the possibility of an Earth impact by Apophis in 2036," Don Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office at JPL, said in a statement.

"The impact odds as they stand now are less than one in a million, which makes us comfortable saying we can effectively rule out an Earth impact in 2036. Our interest in asteroid Apophis will essentially be for its scientific interest for the foreseeable future."

Apophis, which is about 10,060 feet (325 meters) across, will pass at a distance of 18,000 miles above Earth's surface in 2029. It will be the closest approach by an asteroid of its size.

Next month, a lesser-known asteroid called 2012 DA14 will safely pass the Earth's surface at a distance of 17,000 miles, scientists said.