The European Space Agency (ESA) has officially launched its effort to rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis ahead of the space rock’s unprecedented close approach to Earth in 2029. The agency has signed a €63 million contract with OHB Italia to begin preparatory work on the Ramses mission—a bold endeavor to study Apophis as it nears Earth.

Although we can still see comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in our sky, astronomers are already preparing for another extraordinary cosmic spectacle. On April 13, 2029, the asteroid Apophis will pass very close to Earth and will be visible to the naked eye.

Although comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is still visible in our sky, astronomers are already preparing for another extraordinary cosmic event. On 13th April 2029, the asteroid Apophis will pass very close to Earth and will be visible to the naked eye.