2029 as International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence.
On 13 April 2029, the asteroid 99942 Apophis will pass safely at a distance of about 32,000 kilometers above Earth's surface, within the geostationary orbit , posing no threat to the planet. This extremely close approach will make the asteroid visible to billions of people with the naked eye in the clear night sky. This will be a once-in-a-millennium event and a unique occasion for a worldwide campaign to raise awareness with regard to asteroids , their scientific and resource value and the potential hazard they pose. In 2024, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2029 the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence to take advantage on the close approach of 99942 Apophis and raise global awareness about asteroids. This initiative aims to highlight the collaborative efforts of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in mitigating potential hazards from near-Earth objects, while also providing an opportunity for a global educational campaign
