Asteroid 2024 YR4, which sparked panic over potential impact, is now deemed to have a negligible chance of hitting Earth—0.0017%. While this asteroid measures 4090 meters, significantly smaller than the one that eradicated dinosaurs, its energy release potential was substantial. Following initial higher risk assessments, detailed tracking by NASA has dropped the impact probability dramatically. Such incidents serve to highlight and validate planetary defense procedures, indicating that alerts for potential asteroid impacts may become more frequent as new observatories commence operations.
"The city-killing asteroid currently ranks zero on the Torino impact hazard scale that ranges from a no-risk nought to a global-catastrophe 10."
"An asteroid's impact probability often rises before dropping off as additional observations are made. This asteroid was a good demonstration of why we have these procedures."
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