April 13, 2036, not 2012, is the new date for ‘Armageddon’
By ANIThursday, February 10, 2011
MELBOURNE - Russian scientists have predicted that asteroid Apophis is most likely to hit Earth on April 13, 2036.
“Apophis will approach Earth at a distance of 37,000-38,000 kilometers on April 13, 2029,” News.com.au quoted Professor Leonid Sokolov of the St. Petersburg State University as telling Ria Novosti.
“Its likely collision with Earth may occur on April 13, 2036,” Sokolov added.
Asteroid 99942 Apophis was first discovered to be in the Earth’s impact zone back in 2004, and at roughly 300m wide, is estimated to be able to hit the Earth with the force equivalent to somewhere around two Krakatoas.
Apophis could land anywhere in a streak that runs from the Middle East through the tip of South America to the west coast of Africa, according to a paper delivered to the 2007 Planetary Defense Conference.
A simulation tool devised by the University of Southampton in the UK shows that, depending on where it hits, it could cause up to 10 million deaths. (ANI)
