# **Asteroid 2024 YR4: Is a City-Killer Approaching Earth?**
A telescope situated in Chile has recently recorded images of **Asteroid 2024 YR4**, a cosmic rock capable of obliterating an entire city. Though the asteroid is presently moving away from Earth, researchers caution that it could return with a notable risk of impact in **December 2032**.
## **The Discovery and Features of Asteroid 2024 YR4**
NASA’s **Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS)** first detected **Asteroid 2024 YR4** on **December 27, 2024**, merely two days following its close encounter with Earth on **December 25**. The footage obtained by ATLAS displays the asteroid racing through space on its orbit.
Experts estimate that **YR4** spans between **130 to 300 feet (40 to 90 meters) in diameter**. This size categorizes it as a **city-killer asteroid**, which implies that if it were to strike Earth, it could inflict **catastrophic devastation** akin to the 1908 **Tunguska event**, which leveled over 800 square miles of forest in Siberia.
## **Probability of Impact and Possible Outcomes**
While the likelihood of impact remains **low**, NASA researchers have recently **increased their estimate** of the asteroid’s impact probability—from **1.2% to 2.3%** (or **1 in 43 chance**). Should **YR4** hit Earth in **December 2032**, the ramifications would be dire:
– The asteroid could release an **explosion equivalent to 8 megatons**, which is **500 times more potent** than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
– The **impact area**, referred to as the **”risk corridor,”** encompasses a broad region covering the **eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, and South Asia**.
– Depending on its landing site, the asteroid could initiate **tsunamis, widespread devastation, and tragic loss of life**.
## **Ongoing Monitoring and Upcoming Observations**
Despite the concerning potential of **YR4**, NASA is **not alarmed—yet**. Researchers are organizing **further observations in March and April 2025** to fine-tune the asteroid’s path. These observations might potentially **lower the impact risk to zero**.
Another **near approach in 2028** will provide even more information, giving astronomers the opportunity to enhance their predictions for **2032**. NASA also intends to utilize the **James Webb Space Telescope** to ascertain the asteroid’s **precise size and composition** before it moves too far out of tracking range from the ground.
## **Is It Possible to Deflect Asteroid 2024 YR4?**
If the impact odds stay above **1%**, researchers may explore **deflection options**. NASA has already executed asteroid deflection with its **DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission** in **2022**, which successfully changed the trajectory of an asteroid by impacting a spacecraft against it.
If necessary, a comparable mission could be initiated to **alter YR4’s path** and avert a collision with Earth.
## **Final Thoughts: Should We Be Concerned?**
While **Asteroid 2024 YR4** presents a **possible danger**, there exists a **97.7% probability that it will bypass Earth**. Scientists are meticulously tracking its trajectory, and forthcoming observations will shed more light on the risk level.
For the time being, there is no immediate need for concern, but **ongoing vigilance and readiness** are essential. If warranted, NASA and other space agencies possess the technology to **lessen the threat** and safeguard Earth from a disastrous impact.
Stay tuned for more updates as researchers compile additional data on **Asteroid 2024 YR4** in the upcoming months. 🚀🌍
