Asteroid 2024 YR4, discovered in December 2022, has a 1.3% chance of colliding with Earth in 2032, prompting global planetary defense procedures. While the probability of an impact is low, astronomers are closely monitoring its trajectory to confirm its path and assess potential mitigation strategies.
A 100 metre-wide asteroid has triggered global planetary defence procedures for the first time after telescope observations revealed it has a chance of colliding with Earth in 2032.
Based on measurements gathered so far, the asteroid has a 1.3% chance of smashing into Earth on 22 December 2032, or put another way, a nearly 99% probability of barrelling past without incident. The only asteroid ever to receive a higher rating is Apophis which made headlines in 2004. Apophis was initially rated a four on the Torino scale but was later downgraded as observations showed that it posed no threat
A space rock the size of asteroid 2024 YR4 would not unleash a mass extinction event as happened 66m years ago: the asteroid that triggered the demise of the dinosaurs was 10 to 15km wide. But 100 metre-wide space rocks, which impact Earth on average every few thousand years, still have the potential to cause catastrophic damage on the city scale.
ASTEROID PLANETARY DEFENSE SPACE SCIENTISTS COLLISION
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