An asteroid, known as “Apophis”, comparable in size to the Empire State Building, remains a potential threat to Earth in 2029, according to recent simulations.

Asteroid 99942, also called “Apophis,” measures approximately 1,200 feet (370 meters) wide, making it larger than 90% of asteroids. It orbits the sun every 324 days and passes close to Earth roughly once a decade.

THe asteroid has been dubbed a “city killer”.

Discovered in 2004, Apophis was named after the Egyptian god of chaos due to initial concerns about a possible collision with Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068. At one point, astronomers estimated a 2.7% chance of a direct impact.

However, in 2021, NASA eliminated that risk after refining its orbital calculations. New research has partially revived some of the original concerns.

Despite this, astronomers believe Apophis will not collide with Earth on its current path.

On April 13, 2029, it is predicted to come within 19,400 miles (31,200 kilometers) of our planet, marking the closest approach of an asteroid of this size in recorded history, falling within the orbits of Earth’s geostationary satellites.

Nevertheless, simulations indicate a slight possibility that Apophis’s trajectory could be altered by the gravitational influence of another asteroid, which could lead to potentially catastrophic consequences for Earth.