After thorough observations, scientists have ruled out any significant threat from asteroid 2024 YR4, which was once considered a potential impact risk for Earth in 2032. The European Space Agency has reduced the probability of an impact to 0.001%, while NASA estimates it at 0.0017%. Although it's confirmed to safely pass Earth, there’s still a small chance of it hitting the moon. Discovered in December, the asteroid offers valuable study opportunities as it is tracked moving away from Earth, with further observations expected from the Webb Space Telescope.
NASA's Center for Near Earth Objects Studies head Paul Chodas stated, 'That's the outcome we expected all along, although we couldn't be 100% sure that it would happen.'
ESA has lowered the odds of asteroid 2024 YR4 striking Earth to 0.001%, and NASA has it at 0.0017%.
Despite the asteroid no longer being a threat to Earth, NASA emphasized that it provided an invaluable opportunity for study.
The asteroid, discovered in December, is estimated to be between 130 to 300 feet across and swings by Earth every four years.
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