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| Asteroid 2024 YR4 Might Collide with the Moon, Says NASA. |
A fascinating update from space: NASA recently revealed that the chances of asteroid 2024 YR4 colliding with the Moon have slightly increased. The potential impact is predicted to happen on December 22, 2032, although the risk remains very low.
Previously, this asteroid caught scientists’ attention for its potential threat to Earth. But now, researchers are focusing more on the possibility of it crashing into our natural satellite — the Moon.
Spotted by the James Webb Space Telescope
Even though the asteroid is extremely far from Earth, it briefly entered the view of the James Webb Space Telescope this past May. Using its near-infrared camera, a team led by Andy Rivkin from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory tracked its movement and refined its projected path.
As a result, updated calculations show that the probability of the asteroid hitting the Moon has increased from 3.8% to 4.3%. While that’s technically a rise, it’s still a very small chance and not a cause for major concern.
Is Earth at Risk Too?
The short answer is: nope. Experts have made it clear that even if 2024 YR4 does collide with the Moon, it won’t affect the Moon’s orbit or cause any problems on Earth. If debris from the impact gets flung into space and somehow makes its way toward Earth, it would burn up in our atmosphere long before reaching the ground.
So, there's no real threat to our planet or its people. It's more of an interesting space event than anything dangerous.
How Big Is Asteroid 2024 YR4?
This asteroid was first discovered on December 27, 2024, and its estimated size is between 53 and 67 meters — about the height of a 10-story building. With a size like that, it’s no surprise it immediately grabbed the attention of astronomers, especially since it initially showed a collision probability with Earth above 1%, which is relatively high for large space rocks.
In astronomical terms, that's enough to place it on NASA’s radar for ongoing tracking.
Bottom Line: Stay Informed, But No Need to Panic
Even though the odds of 2024 YR4 hitting the Moon have ticked up a bit, there’s no reason to panic. NASA and astronomers around the world are continuously monitoring objects like this, making sure we stay ahead of any real risks.
For the rest of us, it’s a great reminder of how active and well-monitored our solar system is. Plus, if you're into space and science, this is a cool opportunity to learn more about asteroids and space surveillance.
And if you're wondering what would happen if an asteroid actually hits the Moon — don’t worry — the Moon’s not going anywhere.
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