A newly discovered asteroid, 2024 YR4, has a 1.3% chance of striking Earth in December 2032, raising concerns about a potential impact. While scientists emphasize that the asteroid's orbit is uncertain, the IAWN has issued a warning, highlighting the need for vigilance and ongoing monitoring.
An asteroid, 2024 YR4 , poses a slight risk of impacting Earth in December 2032, according to NASA . The space rock, estimated to be between 130 and 330 feet long, is the only large asteroid with an impact probability exceeding 1%. NASA and the International Asteroid Warning Network ( IAWN ) have issued a Potential Impact Warning Notification, noting a 1.3% chance of collision.
While the asteroid's predicted trajectory suggests it could come within 66,000 miles of Earth, uncertainties in orbital dynamics leave open the possibility of a direct hit.Impact locations, based on network estimates, include the eastern Pacific, northern South America, Africa, and south Asia. If YR4 were to collide with Earth, it would cause a significant blast, according to the IAWN warning. Although not catastrophic enough to cause a mass extinction, the impact would be devastating, potentially wiping out entire cities and generating tsunamis. Scientists emphasize that the asteroid's path is still uncertain, and its orbit is likely to change. Experts stress that while the threat level is currently a yellow warning (three out of 10 on the Torino Scale), a final assessment will be made closer to the predicted encounter. David Rankin, an asteroid hunter, assures that there's no need to panic, as the most likely outcome is a miss. The IAWN warning was issued concurrently with the UK Space Agency joining the IAWN, demonstrating a global commitment to planetary defense.The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) is actively monitoring the skies for near-Earth objects, having recently discovered YR4 on December 27 as it passed Earth. Scientists at the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies are continuously analyzing the asteroid's trajectory and size. Should an asteroid impact become a genuine threat, Earth possesses several defensive strategies, including nuclear weapons and spacecraft designed to deflect the incoming rock
ASTEROID EARTH IMPACT 2024 YR4 NASA IAWN PLANETS SPACE
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