A new animation released by the Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) shows a 130- to 300-foot-wide asteroid, named 2024 YR4, having a significant chance of impacting Earth in seven years. The asteroid has a more than 1% chance of hitting our planet on December 22, 2032.
While the chances of impact are still low at 99%, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) rates the asteroid as high-risk due to its increasing probability over time. JPL observed that the impact probability surpassed 1% on January 27, and if it continues on this trajectory, the impact could occur in a risk corridor covering parts of the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, Africa, and Asia.
The asteroid’s size is estimated based on measurements of its brightness, but further observations are needed to confirm its size. The latest report from NASA states that there is no chance of impact for 2028, but future observations may change the classification.
NASA-funded ATLAS has provided this animation as a warning system to alert astronomers and policymakers about potential asteroid threats. The organization will continue to monitor the asteroid’s path and provide updates on its chances of impact.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/new-nasa-imagery-shows-a-large-asteroid-that-could-impact-earth-in-2032