NASAโค Tracks “City Killer” โฃAsteroid 2024โฃ YR4 with Potential Earthโ impact in 2032
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In a groundbreaking revelation, NASA scientists have identified a near-Earth โasteroid, 2024 YR4, that could pose a threat toโฃ ourโค planet in the coming decade. Detected on december 27, 2024, by theโ Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System โฃ(ATLAS), โฃthis celestial bodyโ has โฃsparked global attention due to โits potentialโข to โฃcollide with Earth on โค December 22, 2032.โ โฃ
With a diameter of โapproximately 55 โmeters, 2024 โYR4 falls into โคthe category โof “City Killers”โasteroids capable of devastating entire cities upon impact. While โit โคmay not trigger a mass extinction event like โขtheโฃ meteorite that wiped out the dinosaursโ 66 million years ago, its โcollision could โrelease an estimated 8 megatons of energy, equivalent to 500 times the โฃpower of the Hiroshima atomicโฃ bomb. โ
According to calculations,the asteroid hasโ a 1 inโฃ 83โ (1.2%) chance of โฃimpactingโฃ Earth in 2032. However,scientistsโ emphasize that such probabilities often decrease as moreโ data is collected. “Asteroid 2024 YR4 has an almostโค 99 โpercent chance of safely passing Earth โon 22 december 2032,” โขthe European Space Agency (ESA) stated in a recentโ proclamation [3].
2024 YR4 โ isโ classified โas an Apollo-type near-Earth โobject, meaning its orbit crosses Earth’s path. Over the โฃnext 50 years, it is indeed expected to โฃmake seven close approaches to โour โขplanet, withโ the frist occurring inโข 2028.The moast meaningful encounter, however, remains โคthe 2032 event, which hasโค prompted โ NASA and othreโ space agencies to intensify efforts in planetary defense. โ
This discovery underscores the importance of missions like NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection โคTest), โฃwhich aims to โdevelop technologies to alter the โtrajectory of potentially hazardous asteroids.While the likelihood of 2024 YR4 causing catastrophic damage is low, its existence serves as a stark reminderโฃ ofโ the need for vigilance in monitoring near-earth objects.
Key โฃFacts About โคAsteroid 2024 โขYR4
| Attribute โฃ โโ | Details โ โฃ โค โค โฃ โข โ โ โ โฃ โ โ โฃ โฃ | โข
|————————-|—————————————————————————–|
| Discovery Date โ | December 27, 2024 โ โฃ โค โฃ โ โ โฃ โ โ โ โฃ โ โ โฃโ โฃ |
|โ Diameter โ| ~55 meters โ โฃ โ โค โ โ โ โค โข โฃ โ โ โ โข โ|
| Classification โ | Apollo-type near-Earth โobject โข โ โค โข โค โฃ โข โข โคโ |
| Potential Impact Date | December 22, 2032โฃ โ โ โ โ โค โฃ โค โ โค โข | โข
| Impactโฃ Probability | โ1 in โ83 (1.2%) โ โ โข โฃ โ โ โ โ โฃโฃ โข โ โฃ โ | โฃ
| Energy Release โ | 8 megatons (500x Hiroshimaโค atomicโข bomb) โฃ โฃ โโ โ โฃ โ โ โค โ โโค โ | โฃ
As astronomers continue โtoโข monitor โ 2024 YR4, the public is encouragedโค to โขstay informed about developments in planetary defense and the ongoing efforts toโ safeguard โEarth fromโข potential asteroid threats. For more details on theโ asteroid’s โคtrajectoryโข andโ monitoring efforts,visit the ESA’s Planetary Defence page Live Science |
The โplanetโs proximity to Earth has sparked a wave of interest โand concern.โข While itโs still โขtoo early to predict the outcome, the โขdataโ collected โฃso far suggests that this celestial body warrants close observation. โฃScientists are using advanced โtechnology โto track its movements and assess any potential dangers.
theโ implications of a collision could be โcatastrophic,making this a top priority for researchers. As the โคplanet continues its orbit,astronomers will remain vigilant,analyzing every piece of data โคto ensure the safety of our planet.โ Theโฃ findingsโค from โthis ongoing study could provide critical insights into howโ we prepare for and mitigate suchโฃ threats in the future.
For now, the scientific community โurges the public to stay informed andโค trust in the rigorousโ monitoring efforts underway. As more facts becomes available, โit โฃwillโ beโค sharedโ to keep everyone updated on this developing story.