Mankind has always been fearful of asteroids, especially after learning that one such asteroid led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Even a small asteroid the size of an automobile has the potential to cause cataclysmic destruction.
Therefore, space gazers are always on the lookout for potentially dangerous asteroids that regularly cross the path of Earth’s journey around its mother star, the Sun.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Has Highest Chance of Hitting Earth in 2032
Scientists regularly calculate the chances of any asteroid hitting the Earth, and recently, one such asteroid has been in the news. The asteroid has been designated as 2024 YR4. Scientists assessing the risk of it hitting the Earth have increased the potential possibility from 1.2% to 2.1% in light of new observations.
The asteroid, 2024 YR4, is the size of a football field and is likely to cross the path of Earth in 2032. The asteroid has a 1 in 43 chance of striking the Earth.
While still an extremely low possibility, asteroid 2024 YR4’s impact probability with Earth has increased from about 1% to a 2.3% chance on Dec. 22, 2032. As we observe the asteroid more, the impact probability will become better known. More: https://t.co/VWiASTMBDi pic.twitter.com/Z1mpb4UPaC
— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) February 7, 2025
The asteroid tops the asteroid risk list of the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) Sentry, and there is a possibility that it will hit our planet on December 22, 2032, according to the European Space Agency.
However, astronomers contend that the impact possibility will fall drastically shortly as new observations and details regarding its orbit emerge.
The asteroid was discovered by asteroid hunter David Rankin from the Catalina Sky Survey, and its dimensions are believed to be between 131 and 295 feet wide. Initially, it was reported that the chance of the asteroid hitting our planet was 1 in 83, but with new data, the odds of impact have doubled.
CNN quoted Dr. Paul Chodas, manager for the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, who said that the asteroid was the size of a large building. However, he added that scientists are studying the asteroid with multiple telescopes, and the observations could drastically change.
Dr Paul Chodas also estimated the damage an asteroid of this size could cause and said that 51 square kilometres around the site of impact would be obliterated.
However, he also stated that the asteroid would enter the atmosphere at a speed of about 17 kilometres per second, or 38,028 miles per hour, which could cause immense damage.
Also Read: Will the 15 September 2024 Asteroid Hit Earth? Potential Hazard Looms As NASA Issues Warning
