“The intrigue of Apophis is its exceptionally close approach of our planet on April 13, 2029,” they said.

“Although Apophis will not hit Earth during this encounter or in the foreseeable future, the pass in 2029 will bring the asteroid within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of the surface—closer than some satellites, and close enough that it could be visible to the naked eye in the Eastern Hemisphere.”

NASA further explained just how rare such an event is, estimating that “asteroids of Apophis’ size, about 367 yards across (about 340 meters), come this close to Earth only once every 7,500 years.”

While Apophis is expected to give us a close-up view of an asteroid without any actual danger, it’s the unpredictability of space that keeps these discussions alive. But for now, we can rest easy knowing that the odds are very much in our favor.