Asteroid 2024 YR4: In 2032 we face a dangerous flight?

Asteroid 2024 YR4: In 2032 we face a dangerous flight?

Río Hurtado, Chile - A recently discovered asteroid called "2024 YR4" will be dangerously close to the earth in the next few years. According to the European Space Organization ESA, there is a probability of 1.2 percent that the Asteroid collides with our planet in 2032. This probability of impact is one of the highest that has ever been documented for an asteroid of significant size, reports the world. The Asteroid was discovered on December 27, 2024 with the Atlas telescope in Chile and is currently moving on a long orbit track that will make it disappear from the focus of the telescopes until April 2025.

The ESA describes this flight as a "historical moment". On December 22, 2032, "2024 YR4" will come close to the earth, the probability that it will fly safely by is almost 99 percent. If there is still an impact, the Asteroid could leave a crater of up to two kilometers in diameter, while some material pieces may get into the earth's atmosphere, but would burn there, as the small newspaper reports. The Asteroid is currently estimated with a size of around 40 to 100 meters and is currently about 27 million kilometers from Earth.

observations and challenges

In order to obtain more detailed data on the size and composition of "2024 YR4", the James-Webb world dream telescope in March will be geared towards these asteroids. The head of the ESA's asteroid defense, Richard Moissl, emphasizes that this asteroid is not a "planetary killer" and therefore there is no reason to worry. For now, the ESA continues to monitor the asteroids in order to take suitable measures in the event of increased risk. If the likelihood of an impact is over one percent, the international asteroid warning network becomes active and collects data. It remains to be observed whether "2024 YR4" disappears from the field of vision of the telescopes in April and when exactly it can be observed again, since new data may be able to reduce the risk of an impact.

The predictions to the exact path of the asteroid are still up for discussion, while astronomers do everything they can to carry out determined observations in order to protect humanity from potential dangers from asteroids. In the past there have been serious impacts, but the vast majority of asteroids are currently not an immediate risk for us.

The commitment of the ESA in asteroid observation documents the need to be constantly vigilant in order to minimize the risk of asteroidal threats and, if necessary, think about alternative maneuvers worldwide if the situation should change accordingly.