All articles tagged with #2024yr4
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope refined 2024 YR4's orbit, ruling out an Earth impact and showing the asteroid will pass the Moon at about 14,229 miles, a result that reduces risk to Earth and future lunar missions while demonstrating JWST's ability to track faint near-Earth objects.
NASA says asteroid 2024 YR4 is not expected to hit the Moon or Earth in 2032, with a predicted flyby about 13,200 miles from the Moon after Webb telescope observations refined its orbit; the earlier 4.3% lunar-impact risk is now ruled out, and NASA notes ongoing planetary-defense efforts such as the DART mission.
Astronomers say the near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4 has a 4.3% chance of striking the Moon in December 2032, potentially releasing about 8 megatons of energy and producing a naked-eye flash with magnitude around -2.5 to -3; an infrared afterglow could last hours and the impact could fling up to 100 million kilograms of lunar rocks toward Earth, sparking days-long meteor showers. The finding is based on 10,000 simulations and a preprint, with follow-up observations around the 2032 flyby recommended to better constrain the timeline and likely impact location.