An illustration of an asteroid that is expected to pass close to Earth – this will happen with asteroid 2024 YR4 in 2032. (Image credit: Maciej Frolow via Getty Images)
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has observed potentially hazardous asteroid 2024 YR4 for the last time, at least until the space object crosses Earth's borders again in 2028. The latest data suggests that while Earth is not in immediate danger from an asteroid impact, the Moon may be in greater danger.
New measurements taken with JWST’s Near Infrared Camera in May allowed scientists to calculate the asteroid’s trajectory with the highest accuracy yet, NASA said. The new projections give asteroid 2024 YR4 a 4.3 percent chance of hitting the moon on Dec. 22, 2032 — up from the 3.8 percent chance reported after JWST first imaged the object in March.
“The impact probability may change as new data becomes available, which is normal,” NASA officials said in a press release. “NASA intends to conduct additional observations as the asteroid's orbit brings it closer to Earth in 2028.”
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Asteroid 2024 YR4 is a building-sized space object with a diameter of 174 to 220 feet (53 to 67 meters) — about the same as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If an asteroid that size were to hit Earth, it could destroy an entire city with the force of 500 Hiroshima bombs, Live Science previously reported. (However, there is no danger of a collision with Earth anytime soon.)
The asteroid was first discovered in December 2024, when astronomers realized its orbit around the Sun regularly crossed Earth's. Initial predictions of its trajectory showed a chance of impacting Earth in 2032, with the probability peaking at 3.1% in February.
Follow-up observations with JWST and ground-based telescopes soon helped scientists refine the asteroid's trajectory, reducing the likelihood of a collision with Earth to zero.
Sourse: www.livescience.com
