Asteroid heading for Earth needs UN plan say scientists

While thousands of potentially dangerous Near Earth Objects (NEOs) have been identified by astronomers, the asteroid Apophis has been singled out for attention because it is going to have two very close encounters with the Earth within a short space of time. The first on Friday April 13 2029 will see the asteroid pass within an uncomfortable 30,000 kilometers. However, it is the second pass seven years later that have scientists worried. They're not sure whether the first pass will see Earth's gravity drag Apophis into a direct impact trajectory in 2036.