Asteroid 2024 YR4: Lunar Impact Threat and Potential Meteor Shower in 2032

space agencies are closely monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4, a 60-meter celestial body, due to a 4.3% probability of impacting the Moon in 2032. While initial observations suggested a potential Earth impact, those concerns have been dismissed, but a lunar collision could trigger a harmless, yet spectacular, meteor shower visible from Earth and pose a threat to satellites orbiting the planet.

Potential Lunar Impact of Asteroid 2024 YR4

According to a preliminary study, the potential impact of asteroid 2024 YR4 on the Moon would be the largest in approximately 5,000 years. Paul Wiegert of the university of Western Ontario, the study’s lead author, estimates that the impact would be comparable to a large nuclear explosion in terms of energy released. The study, which is awaiting peer review, suggests that up to 100 million kilograms of material could be ejected from the lunar surface.

Did You Know? the last significant lunar impact is