Till a few weeks ago, there was a possibility that in the year 2032, a huge asteroid would collide with the Earth 2024 YR4. Scientists were very worried about this, but now America’s space agency NASA has said that its possibility of hitting the earth is almost zero.
According to NASA’s recent update, asteroid 2024 YRR4’s risk of colliding with Earth is almost zero i.e. only 0.004%. Initially, when this asteroid was discovered, astronomers said that it could hit the earth in 2032.
However, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) has said on the basis of calculation of the exact path of the asteroid that this danger has been averted for at least the next century.
After depositing and analyzing more data on 2024 YR4, NASA’s Center for Near-Economic Studies (CNEOS) experts have detected its future path. The new calculation has shown that on December 22, 2032, the condition of asteroid will be far away from the Earth.
Earth safe but asteroid can hit the moon
However, the Earth is safe, yet 1.7% chances are that the asteroid can hit the moon on the same day. There is no threat to the Earth from 2024 YR4 but NASA will continue monitoring it.
Additionally, asteroids will also be inspected in March through James Web Space Telescope to get better information about its size and structure.
What is done if an asteroid is going to hit the earth?
The same happened in the year 2004 when an asteroid called Apophis was expected to hit the earth in 2029. The possibility of asteroid colliding with the earth was 2.7%, but in later years, the observations said that the asteroid would not hit the earth.
Precautionary measures are taken for any asteroid that is more than 50 meters wide and whose possibility of hitting the earth is more than 1%. These measures are taken to ensure that no matter how small the danger is, it should be closely monitored and steps should be taken to eliminate it if needed.
If an asteroid is going to hit the earth, then measures are taken to turn its way. NASA also conducted a successful test for this in 2022 which was named Dart Mission. The path of an asteroid was changed in this mission.