Astronomers say the asteroid Apophis approach poses no danger to the planet...

The asteroid Apophis will pass 14.5 million miles from Earth on Wednesday (9th) at 22 hours (GMT), the closest celestial body to our planet observed so far. According to astronomers, the event poses no danger, since the distance is 36 times the distance from Earth to the Moon.

 Discovered in 2004, Apophis would have one chance in 45 of hitting Earth in 2029, but advanced studies ruled out this hypothesis. However, there is still a chance of it colliding with the planet in 2036, and the approach of this day will help predict this probability.

It is estimated that Apophis has a diameter of 270 meters, about three times the size of a football field.  The ESA / Herschel Observatory captured a picture of the asteroid Apophis on January 5.

In 2029, the asteroid will pass closer to Earth than on Wednesday, just 30 thousand miles away. In comparison with the distance of the Moon to the Earth, which is 385,000 kilometers, and communications satellites orbiting 36 kilometers away from Earth.

Continue reading here:  http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/10-01-2013/123427-apophis_as...

Here is the photos that were taken by Herschel Observatory:  http://www.space.com/12501-herschel-space-telescope-photos-astronom...