Astronomers have identified a potentially hazardous asteroid, 2024 YR4, that poses the closest threat to Earth in two decades. The asteroid is expected to come within 20 million miles of our planet’s surface on April 13, 2029, marking the closest any large asteroid has ever come to Earth.
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are preparing to send uncrewed spacecraft to observe 2024 YR4 as it passes by Earth. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission will map the asteroid’s surface and analyze its chemical makeup during its rendezvous with Apophis in June 2029.
The ESA is also launching a spacecraft called Ramses, which will accompany Apophis on its way out of our orbit and observe how the asteroid’s surface changes from being close to Earth. This mission aims to improve our understanding of near-Earth asteroids and their potential threat to our planet.
Additionally, NASA has successfully demonstrated its ability to deflect an incoming asteroid using a spacecraft impact. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission tested a method of redirecting threatening objects hurtling toward Earth. A similar European Space Agency mission, Hera, is on its way to observe the effects of this test on an asteroid.
As awareness of near-Earth asteroids grows, the United Nations has designated 2029 as the “International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defense.” This year marks a crucial step in fostering international cooperation on planetary defense strategies and educating the public on the risks associated with these objects.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/08/asteroid-hitting-earth-2032-nasa/78322607007