Asteroid YR4 Poses 1.2% Risk of Earth Impact in 2032

Scientists are closely monitoring the asteroid, which could cause significant regional damage, while preparing potential deflection strategies.

Asteroid YR4, discovered in December 2024, has a 1.2% chance of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
The asteroid measures between 50 and 100 meters in diameter and could cause destruction comparable to the 1908 Tunguska event, which devastated 2,000 square kilometers in Siberia.
This is the first time an asteroid has surpassed the 1% risk threshold, prompting an international alert and coordination under the UN's asteroid defense framework.
YR4 will become unobservable after April 2025 and won't reappear until 2028, leaving a period of uncertainty about its trajectory and potential impact.
Scientists are considering various deflection methods, including kinetic impactors and nuclear explosions, while emphasizing that the probability of impact may still decrease with further observations.