Overview
- Asteroid 2024 YR4, traveling at 38,000 mph, has a 2.3% chance of hitting Earth on December 22, 2032, according to NASA estimates.
- The potential impact zone, known as the 'risk corridor,' spans regions including the eastern Pacific, northern South America, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and South Asia.
- If it hits Earth, the asteroid could release energy equivalent to 500 Hiroshima bombs, potentially causing localized destruction or tsunamis depending on the impact site.
- Astronomers are monitoring the asteroid closely, with plans for further observations during its next approach in 2028 to refine its trajectory and risk assessment.
- There is also a 0.3% chance of the asteroid striking the Moon, which would create a visible explosion but pose no direct threat to Earth.