Despite a drop in projected impact probability, NASA and other international space agencies are continuing to monitor and develop potential mitigation strategies for Asteroid 2024 YR4, a newly discovered near-Earth object, Fox News reports.
While the chance of the asteroid striking Earth in December 2032 is now estimated at 1.5%, down from a previous 2.6%, the potential risk remains significant enough to warrant continued vigilance.
The asteroid, estimated to be between 130 and 300 feet in width, roughly the height of the Statue of Liberty, was initially identified in late January with an impact probability of 1%. If it were to impact Earth, the potential doomsday scenario could put approximately 110 million people at risk.
According to scientists, Asteroid 2024 YR4 would enter the atmosphere at an astounding speed of roughly 38,000 mph. Initial projections place the potential impact zone over a wide swath of the globe, including the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and South Asia.
To refine their calculations, NASA and the European Space Agency plan to utilize the Webb Space Telescope to observe the asteroid in March, before it disappears from view. The object will reappear in 2028, providing another opportunity for observation and data collection.
While Asteroid 2024 YR4 is currently classified as a Level 3 on a 10-point asteroid hazard scale, indicating potential “localized destruction,” it remains a concern. The alert level is the second highest recorded since 2004 when the asteroid Apophis reached Level 4. Subsequent research revealed that Apophis would safely pass Earth in 2029.
