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Asteroid 2024 YR4: 1.3% Collision Risk by 2032

2/1/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Asteroid 2024 YR4 poses a 1.3% risk of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032. Discovered just last December, this 40-100 meter rock is under close watch by NASA and the European Space Agency. As scientists continue to track its path, hopes rise that they can further diminish the threat it poses to our planet.

History

Historical Context

Asteroid 2024 YR4's potential collision with Earth on December 22, 2032, recalls past asteroid threats, notably the 1908 Tunguska event, where a large explosion flattened 2,000 square kilometers in Siberia. Increased detection efforts since the late 1990s have improved our ability to track near-Earth objects, enabling proactive measures to mitigate potential impacts, as seen with NASA's DART mission.

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Story summary

Asteroid 2024 YR4 poses a 1.3% risk of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032. Discovered just last December, this 40-100 meter rock is under close watch by NASA and the European Space Agency. As scientists continue to track its path, hopes rise that they can further diminish the threat it poses to our planet.

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