Asteroid 2024 YR4 raised concerns earlier in the year when it was determined to have a 1% chance of impacting Earth in 2032. However, this likelihood has decreased significantly over time. Recent observations using the James Webb Space Telescope indicated that 2024 YR4 is about 200 feet in diameter, akin to a 15-story building. Scientists analyzed its thermal properties, discovering they differ from larger asteroids due to its rapid spin and the composition of its surface, dominated by larger rock pieces rather than sand-like particles.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope recently captured these images of asteroid 2024 YR4 using both its NIRCam and MIRI. The data from NIRCam shows reflected light from the asteroid's surface, revealing details about its composition.
According to Rivkin, the thermal properties of 2024 YR4 are not like what we see in larger asteroids, which is likely due to its fast spin and larger rock surface.
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