A celestial object dubbed as a “city killer” asteroid, which has been under close scrutiny by scientists due to its slight probability of colliding with Earth in the year 2032, is now deemed to pose a diminished threat, as per NASA’s most recent analysis. The asteroid known as 2024 YR4, nearly the size of a football field, currently holds a mere 0.004% chance of impacting Earth within the next eight years based on the latest calculations by the space agency. Initially, the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies had estimated a 3% likelihood of the asteroid striking our planet, a figure that was subsequently reduced to 0.28% the previous week.
NASA attributed these altered assessments to the ongoing observations of the asteroid, which have enabled experts to formulate more accurate models of its trajectory. Consequently, the agency has reassured that this specific asteroid does not present any significant risk of striking Earth within the next century. In NASA’s words, “The most recent observations have significantly narrowed down the uncertainty surrounding its future path, with the potential locations of the asteroid on December 22, 2032, now situated further away from our planet.”
However, it appears that the Moon could potentially be in the path of the 2024 YR4 asteroid. According to NASA’s latest calculations, there is a 1.7% chance that the asteroid might collide with the Moon.
The first sighting of this asteroid occurred on December 27, 2024, at the El Sauce Observatory in Chile. Astronomers estimate its width to be between 130 and 300 feet based on its luminosity.
Meanwhile, NASA is actively monitoring other possible asteroid hazards through its Sentry system, an automated collision monitoring tool that scans the latest asteroid catalog for any potential threats of impact with Earth in the coming century.
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