Abdelrahman
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Update: Threat Level Reduced
Astronomers have been meticulously tracking the asteroid known as 2024 YR4, which initially presented an increased risk of colliding with Earth in 2032. Thankfully, NASA confirmed on Monday that this asteroid no longer poses a significant threat, with its chances of impacting our planet now nearly negligible.
"I anticipated that as we gathered more information, the threat would lessen," stated Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. "I was able to sleep quite soundly."
After reports surfaced from skywatchers on December 27, 2024, scientists initially estimated that 2024 YR4 had a more than 1% probability of striking Earth, marking it as the only large asteroid known to have such a significant impact risk.
As researchers continued to analyze the data, the impact likelihood surged from 1.2% to a peak of 3.1% by the following week, showcasing the dynamic nature of monitoring near-Earth objects.
Though a 3.1% chance might seem minor, it was the highest recorded risk by NASA for an asteroid of this size—estimated to be between 130 and 300 feet wide—making it potentially capable of devastating a large metropolitan area. Initial trajectory calculations suggested that it could collide with or explode over significant urban centers, including Mumbai, India, and Lagos, Nigeria.
In summary, while the asteroid 2024 YR4 was once a cause for concern, the latest assessments indicate that the probability of impact has greatly diminished, allowing both scientists and the public to breathe a sigh of relief.
