Asteroid 2024 YR4: Safe passage past Earth confirmed
Scientists from NASA and ESA have almost completely dismissed the threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4. There were initial concerns that it might collide with Earth. The likelihood of such an event was as high as 3 per cent.
After two months of intensive research, scientists from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have almost completely dismissed the threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4. According to the AP on Tuesday, earlier estimates of the probability of a collision with Earth were at 3 per cent. Currently, ESA has reduced this risk to 0.001 per cent, and NASA to 0.0027 per cent.
According to scientists, on 22nd December 2032, the asteroid will safely pass by Earth and will not pose a threat for the next hundred years. However, as reported by the American space agency, there is a 1.7 per cent chance that the object will hit the Moon on that day. This is an increase from previous estimates, which were at 0.8 per cent.
Good news: The asteroid will miss earth
Telescopes worldwide will continue to observe the asteroid. In March, the James Webb Telescope is set to determine more accurately its size, which is currently estimated to be between 40 and 90 metres.
The asteroid was discovered in December 2024. Since then, it has been closely monitored as a potential threat to Earth.
The 2024 YR4, whose name indicates the year of its first observation, was at the top of the list of asteroids that threaten our planet. It is now confirmed that it will not come near a populated region of space for the next hundred years.
