Asteroid Hitting Earth October 2024. Apophis is about 1,100 feet (340 meters) in width. The images confirm the 9km nadir crater, located 300m under the floor of the atlantic ocean, was caused by an asteroid smashing into earth at the end of the cretaceous period around 66 million years ago.

Although its size classifies it as a notable object, it will safely pass by earth at a distance of. That close call serves to highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of the modern track.