Scientists have discovered a new asteroid that has a possibility of hitting Earth on December 22, 2032. The probability of the approximately 60-meter-wide space rock, called 2024 YR4, hitting our planet within the next decade has been calculated as 1.2 percent. It was stated that it could cause serious destruction, especially if it falls into a densely populated area such as large cities.
Scientists have discovered a new asteroid that has a possibility of hitting Earth. The probability of the space rock, called 2024 YR4, which is being tracked by NASA, hitting our planet within the next decade has been calculated as 1.2 percent. It has been stated that the asteroid could cause serious destruction, especially if it targets large cities. Discovered last year, 2024 YR4 is similar in size to the Tunguska asteroid that fell in Siberia in 1908, destroying 80 million trees and causing a massive explosion. Scientists say that such a collision could create a large crater and wipe out communities in the affected region. TOP ON NASA LIST 2024 YR4 has taken the top spot on NASA’s Sentry list of the riskiest asteroids that could hit our planet. Although the asteroid’s current orbital calculations show that it will approach within 100 thousand kilometers of our planet, it is stated that the probability of a direct hit could vary between 1 and 1.2 percent. “IT’S TOO EARLY TO WORRY” Asteroid hunter David Rankin said, “People shouldn’t panic yet,” drawing attention to the fact that the probability of a collision is still very low. Rankin, who said that the space rock will most likely pass through the Earth without hitting it, defined the area with the highest risk of the asteroid as a line stretching from South America to Sub-Saharan Africa. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTY Astronomers say that when the asteroid comes within 8 million kilometers of the Earth in 2028, they will be able to determine its size and composition more clearly by making radar observations. Because the impact effect of an asteroid depends not only on its size but also on its composition. If it is made of stone, it can break up as it enters the atmosphere and cause an air explosion. If it contains iron, it can directly hit the atmosphere and create a large crater. Scientists state that they will try to learn as much as possible about 2024 YR4 before 2032 and prepare for a possible collision scenario.
