Astronomers have a 2% chance prediction of asteroid 2024 YR4 striking Earth in 2032, a feat made possible by Johannes Kepler's laws of orbital mechanics established in the 17th century. Modern advancements such as digital telescopes and automated systems have significantly improved the detection speed of asteroids. Observatories now nightly capture wide-angle images, allowing for rapid identification and analysis of asteroids based on their motion relative to fixed stars. Understanding orbit shapes—elliptical, parabolic, or hyperbolic—allows scientists to assess the potential paths of these celestial objects accurately.
Astronomers have been able to predict the trajectories of asteroids for centuries, thanks to Kepler's laws of orbital mechanics which describe elliptical, parabolic, and hyperbolic paths.
With the advent of digital cameras and automated survey systems, astronomers can now detect previously undiscovered asteroids much faster than the traditional photographic methods.
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