NASA reported on Tuesday that “city-destroying” asteroid 2024 YR4 has a 3.1% chance of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032, making it the most significant threatening space rock ever recorded by modern forecasting.
The asteroid, first detected in December 2023, is estimated to be 130 to 300 feet (40–90 meters) wide, the “city killer” asteroid could cause significant damage, but it is not large enough to cause a global catastrophe. If it were to impact, the most likely scenario is an airburst, which means it will explode in midair as it enters Earth’s atmosphere with a force 500 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb.
Experts assure there’s no immediate cause for alarm, as the global astronomical community is closely monitoring the asteroid. The James Webb Space Telescope is set to observe it in March and is expected to refine its trajectory, likely reducing the probability to near zero. The International Asteroid Warning Network will issue formal warnings if the risk exceeds 10%.
