Scientists are intensively observing an asteroid with the potential for an Earth impact in 2032.
According to the USA Today, The asteroid, 2024 YR4, has an over 1% chance of striking Earth, marking the highest impact threat in the past twenty years, although space agencies remain hopeful that further observations will discount this possibility.
The Chicxulub impactor, responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs sixty-six million years ago, serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of celestial impacts. Over recent years, advancements in technology have significantly improved the detection and preparation capabilities for any celestial objects on a collision course with Earth. The latest candidate for concern, asteroid 2024 YR4, was first noticed in late 2024.
The threat posed by 2024 YR4, with its 1% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032, has prompted scientists to monitor it closely. The Torino Scale has classified it at level 3, marking the most significant hazard since astronomers detected asteroid Apophis in 2004. Researchers reported the discovery of 2024 YR4 to the Minor Planet Center on December 27, 2024.
Apophis, initially believed to pose a significant risk, became a focus until observations concluded by 2021, showed it posed no threat for at least a century. This asteroid is set to make a close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029, coming within 20,000 miles.
The European Space Agency's Ramses spacecraft and NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, now renamed OSIRIS-APEX, are gearing up for comprehensive studies of Apophis during its 2029 approach.
NASA has been pioneering efforts in planetary defense strategies with the successful DART mission, which intentionally collided with asteroid Dimorphos in 2022. This defense tactic is being further validated by the European Space Agency's Hera mission, which launched in October 2024 and aims to assess the effectiveness of the DART impact when it reaches Dimorphos in 2026.
Richard Moissl, head of the European Space Agency's Planetary Defence Office, emphasized the proactive stance of space agencies.
We aren’t just waiting for an asteroid to strike. We are taking active measures to help Earth defend itself against a potential impact.
The impending development of the NASA NEO Surveyor telescope, planned to launch no earlier than June 2028, will further enhance the detection of substantial near-Earth objects. This initiative will further augment the world's preparedness against threats from space.
The looming potential threat of asteroids has prompted increased collaboration on a global scale. The United Nations has taken a significant step by designating 2029 as the 'International Year of Asteroid Awareness.' This initiative seeks to promote worldwide cooperation in the realm of planetary defense.
Richard Moissl also highlighted the importance of public awareness and engagement in dealing with asteroid threats.
As our technology improves, we will detect more asteroids on trajectories that bring them safely past Earth that we would have missed in the past. It is critical that we continue to support public engagement in order to help people around the world separate the facts from the fiction.
The current situation with asteroid 2024 YR4 underscores the necessity of continued vigilance and advancing technology. Although the chances of a collision remain small, the world's space agencies are ensuring preparedness through innovative planetary defense measures. Efforts like the DART impact and the upcoming Hera mission exemplify the global determination to secure Earth's safety.
