NASA has raised the likelihood of asteroid 2024 YR4 impacting the moon to 4.3% on December 22, 2032, although the chances of it hitting Earth remain virtually zero. The object, which measures approximately 174 to 220 feet in diameter, was discovered last year and is described as a 'city-killer' due to its potential to cause massive destruction. NASA relies on observations from the James Webb Space Telescope to monitor this asteroid as it is currently too distant for Earth-based telescopes to detect.
The asteroid 2024 YR4 has a 4.3% chance of impacting the moon in 2032, which could result in a visible flash from Earth.
NASA has observed the asteroid using the James Webb Space Telescope, indicating an increase in the odds of it colliding with the moon.
2024 YR4, designated a 'city-killer', would cause massive destruction if it struck Earth, but chances for an Earth impact have decreased.
Molly Wasser from NASA noted that as data is collected, it's common for impact probability assessments to change over time.
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