A newly discovered asteroid, named 2024 YR4, poses a potential threat to Earth due to its estimated size range. According to Dr. Paul Chodas, manager for the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, the asteroid is thought to be between 131 to 295 feet wide, comparable to that of a large building. While this size is significantly smaller than the “planet-killer” asteroid that caused the extinction of dinosaurs, it’s still considered a potential threat.
Astronomers are closely tracking the asteroid to gather more information about its trajectory and size. The James Webb Space Telescope will play a crucial role in refining the space rock’s size and orbit. Currently, 2024 YR4 is approximately 30 million miles away from Earth and moving farther away over time.
The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope first discovered the asteroid on December 27. Since then, multiple telescopes have been tracking its movement, providing valuable data for scientists. If the asteroid disappears from view before space agencies can rule out any chance of impact, it will remain on the risk list until June 2028.
Estimating the risks associated with a potential impact is challenging due to the asteroid’s high speed and size. Scientists believe that if 2024 YR4 is determined to be on a future collision course, the impact could produce blast damage up to 50 kilometers away from the impact site. However, this event would be rare, as asteroids of this size only impact Earth every few thousand years.
The discovery of new near-Earth objects has become increasingly important in recent years. According to estimates, about 3,000 new asteroids are found each year, but it’s difficult to detect those within the size range of 2024 YR4 due to their dark and small nature. The European Space Agency and other organizations continue to monitor the sky to stay ahead of potential threats from these space rocks.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/15/science/index.html