Asteroid 2024 YR4 has a chance of hitting Earth in 2032 – NASA

Asteroids occasionally wander close to the Earth, raising alarms for scientists who keep their eyes on the sky. These rocky bodies vary in size and trajectory, and some can pose a real risk if they come too close.

Experts recently identified asteroid 2024 YR4, spotted on December 27, 2024, and they note a small chance of it impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. It ranges from about 130 feet to 330 feet across, enough to cause severe harm to one region if it collides with our planet. This assessment is shared by Dr. Richard Moissl from ESA’s Planetary Defence Office. His team has been analysing the object’s path since early January to ensure no important detail slips through the cracks.

Astronomers from NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System station in Chile used automated warning systems to learn that this object has about a 1.2 percent probability of a collision. Independent calculations by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies match these findings, which helps confirm the current hazard level.

Observers have placed the asteroid at Level 3 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, meaning it deserves added attention from researchers and everyday folks alike. Once more data rolls in, that probability might drop, which is common in cases like this. Researchers are also watching the asteroid’s path as it moves farther away from Earth. Its elongated orbit, known as eccentric, makes it tricky to pin down its exact route.

A body spanning over 130 feet can trigger local destruction if it slams into Earth. Historical records show that objects of this class impact our planet roughly every few thousand years. (Earth.com)

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