Scientists' Latest Calculations: Asteroid 2024 YR4's Chance of Hitting Earth Drops Significantly | WPN World People News

Astronomers have recently updated their observations of asteroid "2024 YR4," confirming that while it was initially believed to have a high probability of colliding with Earth in 2032, more precise orbital analyses have now significantly downgraded its impact risk to near zero, eliminating the previously perceived threat.

Discovered last year, "2024 YR4" was originally calculated to have a 3.1% chance of impacting Earth in 2032. However, after extensive tracking by multiple observatories worldwide and advanced simulations using the latest models, the most recent data indicates that the actual impact probability has dropped to just 0.001% to 0.004%. In other words, the asteroid will pass close to Earth in 2032 without posing a direct threat to humanity.

Despite this, scientists continue to closely monitor the trajectory of "2024 YR4" as it will pass relatively close to the Moon, with calculations showing an approximately 1.7% chance of colliding with it. To obtain more accurate data, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) plan to continue tracking it using ground-based telescopes and are set to conduct more detailed observations with the Webb Space Telescope in March to determine its size, composition, and the possibility of any further changes in its future trajectory.

Although this study has ruled out any threat from "2024 YR4" to Earth, experts emphasize that this monitoring and analysis provide valuable data for addressing potential asteroid impacts in the future and highlight the importance of developing planetary defense technologies.