Massive asteroid Apophis may hit the Earth in 2068.

Astronomers have reported that a large asteroid named Apophis may hit the Earth in 2068 due to a phenomenon called the Yarkovsky effect.

Astronomers have reported that a large asteroid named Apophis may hit the Earth in 2068 due to a phenomenon called the Yarkovsky effect.The University of Hawai'i Institute for Astronomy has announced that a large asteroid will pass close to the Earth in 2068. The asteroid is called Apophis, and thanks to something called the Yarkovsky effect, there is a small chance that it will hit Earth.

According to EarthSky, the Yarkovsky effect is a minuscule push on a small body in space, imparted by nothing more than sunlight.The detection of the Yarkovsky effect is particularly important for the asteroid Apophis, as it increases the probability of it impacting Earth in 2068. The astronomers said, “All asteroids need to reradiate as heat the energy they absorb from sunlight to maintain thermal equilibrium, a process that slightly changes the orbit of the asteroid."

Until the detection of the Yarkovsky effect, astronomers had previously reported that a potential impact on Earth in 2068 was impossible. In any case, astronomers will know well before 2068 if there is any chance of an impact.