The Apophis flyby will be one of the few asteroid passes that ordinary people can see without a telescope. Here is how to plan for it.
The closest approach is expected around 21:46 UTC on April 13, 2029, when it is night over Europe, Africa and parts of western Asia. These regions will have the best views. Observers in the Americas and eastern Asia will mostly miss the peak, though they will be able to follow livestreams from observatories.
Apophis will look like a faint, fast-moving star, roughly as bright as the dimmer stars of the Big Dipper (magnitude about 3 to 4 at its brightest). It will cross the sky noticeably quickly, moving across many degrees of sky in an hour, which is very unusual for a naked-eye object. It will not look like a fireball or a comet with a tail.
Use our flyby time calculator to see the exact local time and sky darkness for your city.
The closest approach is around 21:46 UTC. In Central Europe, where daylight saving time will be in effect in April, that is about 23:46 in the evening. In western Africa it is close to the UTC time itself, and in eastern Europe and the Middle East it is after midnight. Because Apophis moves quickly across the sky, you will want to start looking about an hour before and keep watching for an hour or two afterward.
You do not need expensive equipment. A camera or phone on a tripod, a wide lens, manual focus set to infinity and exposures of roughly 10 to 20 seconds can capture a short streak or a series of dots as the asteroid moves. Take many pictures in a row, then combine them into a time-lapse. Practice on a satellite or the Moon beforehand, so that you are not learning your settings in the middle of the event.
April weather in Europe is unpredictable. Check cloud forecasts a few days ahead, and have a second location within driving distance. If clouds win, the online livestreams are your backup.
Expect livestreams from observatories, science channels and space agencies, such as Virtual Telescope Project, NASA and ESA. We will list the best streams on this site as the date gets closer.
From these regions Apophis will be below the horizon, or too low, around the time of closest approach, so you will not see the best part with your own eyes. You can still follow the event through livestreams, and you may be able to watch it in the hours after it has passed, when it fades but is still within reach of a telescope.
Do I need a telescope? No. Under a dark sky, Apophis is expected to be visible without any equipment. Binoculars make it easier to follow.
Will it be bright? It should resemble a moderately bright star, not a spectacular fireball.
Will anything unusual happen on Earth? No. The event is visual and scientific, with no effect on weather, tides or daily life.
Yes. The asteroid will pass tens of thousands of kilometers away, and there is no impact risk. Its gravity will not cause earthquakes, tides or any noticeable effect on Earth. Learn more in our Apophis guide.
Facts in this article are drawn from public scientific sources. For primary information, see: