![Esa plans mission to study asteroid as it hurtles past Earth](https://cdn.magzter.com/1588175106/1721183311/articles/az6WY88Tt1721190160096/ESA-PLANS-MISSION-TO-STUDY-ASTEROID-AS-IT-HURTLES-PAST-EARTH.jpg)
Now researchers hope to scrutinise 99942 Apophis as it makes its close encounter in an effort to bolster our defences against other space rocks.
The European Space Agency (Esa) has announced funding for preparatory work on the Rapid Apophis Mission for Security and Safety (Ramses), in which a spacecraft will be sent to the asteroid to glean information about its size, shape, mass and the way it spins as it hurtles through space.
The mission will also shed light on the composition and internal structure of Apophis, as well as its orbit, and explore how the asteroid changes as it passes within 20,000 miles (32,000km) of Earth - about one-tenth of the distance to the moon - on Friday 13 April 2029.
"The flyby it does with Earth is absolutely unique," said Dr Holger Krag, the head of Esa's space safety programme office, adding that no asteroid is expected to come as close for a few thousand years. "If the sky is clear, you should be able to see it with your naked eye."
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 17, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 17, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
![National security adviser PM overturns appointment of general chosen by Tories](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/EuGhP33nd1724728935795/NATIONAL-SECURITY-ADVISER-PM-OVERTURNS-APPOINTMENT-OF-GENERAL-CHOSEN-BY-TORIES.jpg)
National security adviser PM overturns appointment of general chosen by Tories
Keir Starmer has cancelled the appointment of one of Britain's top generals as his national security adviser in a move senior civil servants fear is designed to pave the way for a more politically loyal candidate.
![Sunak's D-day absence Book reveals source of election-defining error](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/7VztK3W7E1724728834404/SUNAKS-DDAY-ABSENCE-BOOK-REVEALS-SOURCE-OF-ELECTIONDEFINING-ERROR.jpg)
Sunak's D-day absence Book reveals source of election-defining error
Senior officials at the Foreign Office repeatedly warned No 10 that Rishi Sunak should not leave June's D-day commemoration in Normandy early, according to new revelations in a book about the Conservatives' 14 years in power.
![Tabloid intrusion Manager's private life was a press obsession](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/HJzy42dYT1724728523641/TABLOID-INTRUSION-MANAGERS-PRIVATE-LIFE-WAS-A-PRESS-OBSESSION.jpg)
Tabloid intrusion Manager's private life was a press obsession
As the first foreigner to manage England, SvenGöran Eriksson's in 2001 appointment was seen as a symbol of a more outward-looking nation.
![World's oldest man celebrates 112th birthday at care home in Merseyside](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/NeYlPE4ct1724728770517/WORLDS-OLDEST-MAN-CELEBRATES-112TH-BIRTHDAY-AT-CARE-HOME-IN-MERSEYSIDE.jpg)
World's oldest man celebrates 112th birthday at care home in Merseyside
The world's oldest living man turned 112 yesterday at his care home in Merseyside.
!['One of the very best': England stars lead tributes to Eriksson](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/-CUbLMWDr1724728387818/ONE-OF-THE-VERY-BEST-ENGLAND-STARS-LEAD-TRIBUTES-TO-ERIKSSON.jpg)
'One of the very best': England stars lead tributes to Eriksson
David Beckham led the tributes to Sven-Göran Eriksson last night after the former England manager died at the age of 76, describing him as \"passionate, caring, calm and a true gentleman\".
![Tens of thousands gather for final day of Notting Hill carnival](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/sZS4KCcwW1724728096461/TENS-OF-THOUSANDS-GATHER-FOR-FINAL-DAY-OF-NOTTING-HILL-CARNIVAL.jpg)
Tens of thousands gather for final day of Notting Hill carnival
Tens of thousands of revellers turned out to enjoy the final day of this year's Notting Hill carnival yesterday, flooding the streets of west London with colour, dancing and music.
![over Questions cladding as fire breaks out at east London block of flats](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/0lkWRYqik1724727911975/OVER-QUESTIONS-CLADDING-AS-FIRE-BREAKS-OUT-AT-EAST-LONDON-BLOCK-OF-FLATS.jpg)
over Questions cladding as fire breaks out at east London block of flats
A large fire that engulfed a block of flats in east London has been.
![Internet a greater risk to children than travel, say safety experts](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/FS5va0pcV1724727844928/INTERNET-A-GREATER-RISK-TO-CHILDREN-THAN-TRAVEL-SAY-SAFETY-EXPERTS.jpg)
Internet a greater risk to children than travel, say safety experts
Safeguarding experts and child psychologists have said the risks to teenagers are increasingly \"far greater\" online at home than when travelling independently following the row about the television presenter Kirstie Allsopp allowing her teenage son to go Interrailing.
![Rising sea levels mean Pacific islands in 'grave danger', warns UN chief](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/THYyJXX6v1724727780225/RISING-SEA-LEVELS-MEAN-PACIFIC-ISLANDS-IN-GRAVE-DANGER-WARNS-UN-CHIEF.jpg)
Rising sea levels mean Pacific islands in 'grave danger', warns UN chief
Pacific island nations are in \"grave danger\" from rising sea levels and the world must \"answer the SOS before it is too late\", the UN chief has warned during a visit to Tonga.
![Airstrikes Five dead in wave of missile and drone attacks](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1812040/13Dv9kRfH1724727710625/AIRSTRIKES-FIVE-DEAD-IN-WAVE-OF-MISSILE-AND-DRONE-ATTACKS.jpg)
Airstrikes Five dead in wave of missile and drone attacks
A huge missile and drone attack launched by Russia across Ukrainian territory has left at least five people dead, officials have said.