Which of the following Asteroid will fly by the Earth in the next 10 years and…
2019
Which of the following Asteroid will fly by the Earth in the next 10 years and that people will be able to see if it pass by, with their naked eyes?
- A.
Eros
- B.
Apophis
- C.
Bennu
- D.
Ceres
Attempted by 367 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Answer: Apophis — Apophis (99942) is the object on this list expected to make a close approach to Earth within the next ten years and could be bright enough to see without a telescope.
Key details:
Close approach timing: Apophis will make a very close approach on April 13, 2029.
Visibility: Predicted peak brightness is around magnitude 3–4, which can be visible to the naked eye from dark locations. Brightness estimates depend on distance, phase angle, and surface reflectivity, so there is some uncertainty.
Safety note: Current orbit determinations show no impact expected during the 2029 close approach.
Why the other objects are not correct:
Eros: Although Eros is a near-Earth asteroid, it does not have a scheduled close approach in the next ten years that would make it bright enough for naked-eye observation.
Bennu: This is a much smaller asteroid and is not expected to pass close enough to produce naked-eye brightness in the next decade.
Ceres: Ceres is a main-belt dwarf planet, not a near-Earth flyby candidate. It does not have a close Earth approach planned that would be described as a flyby in the next ten years.
Summary: Apophis is the correct choice because it has a known, very close approach in 2029 that could make it visible to the unaided eye; the other listed objects will not produce a comparable naked-eye flyby in the next ten years.