At the end of last year, astronomers discovered asteroid 2024 YR4.
It is larger than the Chelyabinsk meteorite.
Scientists believe that 2024 YR4 could collide with Earth in December 2032.
This was reported by MIA “Russia Today” with reference to astronomer Stas Korotky.
What is known about asteroid 2024 YR4
Asteroid 2024 YR4 was discovered at the ATLAS observatory in Chile on December 27 last year.
According to preliminary estimates, the asteroid's diameter is about 70 m, which is three to four times larger than the Chelyabinsk meteorite.
As Korotkiy explained, there is a possibility of a collision with Earth on December 22, 2032.
According to him, this probability is estimated by different structures from 0.5 to 6%.
6% – out of 16 possible scenarios, one involves a collision, the astronomer explained.
He noted that the probability of 2024 YR4 colliding with our planet on December 22, 2032 is 6% – the highest percentage since the discovery of the asteroid Apophis, which will fly within 30,000 km of Earth in April 2029.
If this scenario comes true, the asteroid would most likely fall in the Atlantic Ocean or central Africa.
A fall on the continent will cause a local catastrophe. Buildings may be destroyed within a radius of 30 km.
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