Astronomers closely tracked the asteroid 2024 YR4, initially noting a rising chance of collision with Earth, which peaked at 3.1%. Scientists monitored this large rock, estimated between 130 to 300 feet wide, capable of threatening major cities like Mumbai and Lagos. However, recent data analysis led NASA to announce a significant reduction in impact probability, providing reassurance to the global community that the asteroid no longer poses a serious threat as chances have dropped to almost zero.
As scientists studied more data on the object, the odds of impact continued to rise through January and February, from 1.2 percent to a peak of 3.1 percent on Tuesday last week.
I was sleeping pretty well. Days after skywatchers reported their observations of 2024 YR4 on Dec. 27, 2024, scientists calculated that it had more than a 1 percent chance of striking Earth.
Somewhere between 130 and 300 feet wide, 2024 YR4 is big enough to potentially wipe out a city.
NASA announced on Monday that it posed a threat no longer - the odds that the asteroid would smash into our planet have dropped to nearly zero.
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