NASA has given Earth the all clear for the next century from a particularly menacing asteroid. 

• The space agency announced this week that new telescope observations have ruled out any chance of Apophis smacking Earth in 2068. 
• That’s the same 1,100-foot (340-meter) space rock that was supposed to come frighteningly close in 2029 and again in 2036.  

• NASA ruled out any chance of a strike during those two close approaches a while ago. But a potential 2068 collision still loomed. 
• First detected in 2004, Apophis is now officially off NASA’s asteroid “risk list.” 

Source: The Hindu