Astronomers have been closely monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4 since its discovery in December. This space rock, referred to as a “city killer,” has a 1.5% chance of striking Earth during a flyby on December 22, 2032. While the probability is low, it’s above the threshold of concern, prompting space agencies like NASA to track its trajectory.

BulletsIn

• Asteroid 2024 YR4 has a 1.5% chance of hitting Earth on December 22, 2032.
• The asteroid is being monitored by NASA and other space agencies globally.
• Its impact corridor stretches from the eastern Pacific Ocean to South Asia.
• Population centers like Bogota, Lagos, and Mumbai lie within its potential path.
• The asteroid is about 130 to 300 feet wide, similar in size to a large office building.
• A collision with Earth could cause devastation comparable to a hydrogen bomb detonation.
• Scientists predict that the probability of impact will drop to zero, similar to the Apophis asteroid.
• NASA is coordinating with China’s CNSA, Russia’s Roscosmos, and ESA for asteroid tracking.
• The James Webb Space Telescope will be used to refine size and trajectory estimates in March and May.
• A tiny chance remains that the asteroid might strike the moon instead.