The moon is safe': asteroid is not on collision course, scientists confirm

"Discovered in December 2024, asteroid 2024 YR4 was briefly considered the most dangerous asteroid in decades after scientists initially estimated it had a 3.1% chance of colliding with the Earth in 2032. Closer observations quickly ruled out a city killer scenario, but instead astronomers calculated there was a 4.3% chance that the moon lay in the path of impact."

"Although there would not be any danger to the Earth, lunar debris kicked up during a collision could interfere with satellites used for navigation and communications. But new observations appear to have eliminated this risk, showing that the asteroid will safely pass the moon at a distance of more than 20,000km (12,400 miles)."

"An international team of scientists identified two five-hour windows in February, when they believed the James Webb Space Telescope could detect and track the asteroid, which is four billion times fainter than the faintest star visible to the unaided eye."

Asteroid 2024 YR4, discovered in December 2024, initially posed a 3.1% collision risk with Earth in 2032. Subsequent observations ruled out Earth impact but revealed a 4.3% chance of lunar collision, which could generate debris threatening navigation and communication satellites. New observations using the James Webb Space Telescope have now confirmed the asteroid will pass the moon safely at a distance exceeding 20,000 kilometers. An international team of scientists identified observation windows in February to track the extremely faint asteroid, which reflects minimal light. This discovery demonstrates advanced astronomical capabilities in tracking distant celestial objects and refining impact probability assessments.

Read at www.theguardian.com