A rare near-Earth asteroid named Apophis is expected to make an extremely close flyby of Earth on April 13, 2029, becoming bright enough to be visible to the naked eye from some regions.

It will pass at a distance of about 20,000 miles, closer than many satellites, making it a once-in-thousands-of-years astronomical event.

Scientists will use the encounter to study how Earth’s gravity affects the asteroid’s spin, surface, and internal structure.

The flyby was once feared as a potential impact risk when Apophis was discovered in 2004, but that threat has since been ruled out for at least a century, Space.com has reported.

Astronomers and space missions are preparing to observe the event closely, while skywatchers plan travel to areas with optimal viewing conditions.