Overview

• Asteroid 2024 YR4, first discovered in December 2024, was initially flagged as a potential Earth impact threat for 2032 but is now confirmed to pose no danger to the planet.
• Refined trajectory models indicate a 3.8-4% chance of the asteroid colliding with the Moon, though the probability remains low.
• The asteroid, approximately 60 meters in diameter, has a flattened, hockey puck-like shape and rotates every 20 minutes, challenging typical asteroid models.
• Advanced observations using telescopes such as JWST, Gemini South, and Keck have provided detailed insights into its silicate-rich composition and orbital path.
• Scientists believe the asteroid originated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, with gravitational interactions pushing it into its current near-Earth orbit.