Asteroid 2024 YR4, initially considered a potential threat with a 3.1% chance of impact, now has a mere 0.28% chance of colliding with Earth in 2032. This significant drop in risk was reported by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory after new observations clarified its trajectory. Directors emphasized that earlier expectations of a rising risk were anticipated as more data were gathered. The asteroid's size raised concerns, triggering a global warning system, but further calculations have effectively restored safety, lowering its Torino impact scale rating from a 3 to a 1.
The probability of an impact has always been very low. Astronomers have cautioned the public that this probability is likely to rise before dropping to zero.
It's clearly headed for zero, as we expected," said Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies.
The size of the rock - possibly big enough to cover a football field - and the possibility of an impact raised Asteroid 2024 YR4 to a 3 on the Torino scale.
With the latest observations, the asteroid has dropped to a 1 on the Torino scale, indicating a much lower risk than previously assessed.
Collection
[
|
...
]