Washington, February 19, 2025: NASA has identified asteroid 2024 YR4 as a potential threat, with a 3.1 percent chance of striking Earth on December 22, 2032. The asteroid, first detected in December 2024, measures between 130 and 300 feet in diameter. While the impact probability has risen, scientists emphasize that further observations, including upcoming analysis by the James Webb Space Telescope, could refine or rule out the risk.
The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) issued a memo in January after the impact probability crossed one percent. NASA currently estimates the odds at 1 in 32, while the European Space Agency (ESA) places the risk slightly lower at 2.8 percent. A similar concern arose in 2004 with asteroid Apophis, but further observations ruled out any danger. Experts anticipate that continued tracking of 2024 YR4 will likely lead to a similar outcome.
