NASA has provided an important update on the likelihood of a “city-destroying” asteroid hitting Earth within the next seven years.
NASA has recently provided an important update regarding a potentially dangerous asteroid known as 2024 YR4.
This asteroid has been in the news due to its size and proximity to Earth.
It is estimated to be between 130 and 300 feet wide, which raises concerns about its impact potential.
Initial concerns about asteroid 2024 YR4
The asteroid was first detected in December 2024, triggering automated warning systems.
Scientists quickly began tracking its path to assess the risk it posed to Earth.
When it was first discovered, the asteroid had a 1.2 percent chance of colliding with our planet in December 2032.
This initial assessment alarmed many, as such a collision could have catastrophic consequences.
As researchers continued to study the asteroid, they found that the likelihood of a collision increased to 3.2 percent.
This change made 2024 YR4 one of the biggest threats to Earth, surpassing previous concerns about the infamous asteroid known as Apophis.
NASA releases new update on potential impact of ‘city-destroying’ asteroid on Earth in next seven years
However, in a surprising turn of events, NASA has now lowered the risk of 2024 YR4 colliding with Earth.
The latest observations have led scientists to conclude that the asteroid is unlikely to impact our planet for the foreseeable future.
NASA stated that the asteroid’s trajectory has been refined, and the chances of it hitting Earth have substantially decreased.
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ongoing observations have provided better data.
They now believe there is no significant potential for the asteroid to impact Earth for at least the next century.
This news has been met with relief from scientists and the public alike.
“NASA has significantly lowered the risk of near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4 as an impact threat to Earth for the foreseeable future.
When first discovered, asteroid 2024 YR4 had a very small, but notable chance of impacting our planet in 2032.
“As observations of the asteroid continued to be submitted to the Minor Planet Center, experts at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL’s) Center for Near-Earth Object Studies were able to calculate more precise models of the asteroid’s trajectory
and now have found there is no significant potential for this asteroid to impact our planet for the next century.
“The latest observations have further reduced the uncertainty of its future trajectory, and the range of possible locations the asteroid could be on Dec. 22, 2032, has moved farther away from the Earth.”
The current probability of impact
As of now, the probability of asteroid 2024 YR4 colliding with Earth has been reduced to a mere 1.7 percent.
While this still indicates a slight chance of impact, it is much lower than previous estimates.
NASA has reassured the public that the asteroid is now categorized as a routine discovery, posing no immediate danger.
In fact, the agency has placed 2024 YR4 in the ‘normal’ category on the Torino Scale.
This scale is used to assess the risk posed by near-Earth objects. Items in this category are considered to have a routine pass near Earth, posing no unusual level of danger.
The NASA website says of items in category 1: “A routine discovery in which a pass near the Earth is predicted that poses no unusual level of danger.
“Current calculations show the chance of collision is extremely unlikely with no cause for public attention or public concern.
New telescopic observations very likely will lead to re-assignment to Level 0.”