Asteroid 2024 YR4:
- Discovered on december 27, 2024, by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile.
- Has a diameter between 40 and 100 meters.
- Reached a 1% impact probability with Earth, prompting the activation of the planetary security protocol by the United Nations.
- Passed a 1.3% probability to 2.3% according to NASA, and 2.27% according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
- Potential impact date is december 22, 2032.
- Impact corridor would span from the east of the Pacific Ocean, the north of South america, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and southern Asia if it were to impact.
Interview on Asteroid 2024 YR4
Editor: Can you provide an update on the recent discovery of Asteroid 2024 YR4, which was detected by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile?
Guest: Certainly! Asteroid 2024 YR4 was first discovered on December 27, 2024. the initial detection was made by the ATLAS telescope in Chile, and subsequent monitoring revealed alarming details about its potential trajectory. According to several reliable sources, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, there is a notable probability that this asteroid might impact Earth on December 22, 2032.
Editor: Can you specify more about the size and impact probability of this asteroid?
Guest: The latest estimates indicate that Asteroid 2024 YR4 has a diameter between 40 and 100 meters. It poses a significant risk, as one of the sources, NASA, initially reported a 1% impact probability which prompted the United Nations to activate the planetary security protocol. Further refinement by NASA put the probability between 1.3% and 2.3%, while ESA assessed it at 2.27% [[3](https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/ESA_actively_monitoring_near-Earth_asteroid_2024_YR4)].
Editor: What is the expected impact path if it were to strike Earth?
Guest: If asteroid 2024 YR4 were to impact Earth,the predicted impact corridor would span from the east of the Pacific Ocean,across the northern regions of South America,over the Atlantic Ocean,and perhaps affect parts of Africa,the Arabian Sea,and southern Asia. This broad potential impact path highlights the importance of active monitoring and further analysis of its trajectory [[1](https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ESA_Monitoring_Potential_Threat_from_Near_Earth_Asteroid_2024_YR4_999.html)][[2](https://www.livescience.com/space/asteroids/city-killer-asteroid-has-a-1-in-83-chance-of-smashing-into-earth-in-2032-nasa-says)].
Conclusion: The discovery of Asteroid 2024 YR4 has raised concerns due to its potential impact on Earth in 2032. Given its significant size and unlikely but unforgiving probability, it necessitates comprehensive international monitoring and preparedness measures to mitigate any potential threat. The collaborative efforts of organizations like NASA and the ESA, alongside United Nations protocols, are crucial in addressing the implications of such celestial bodies.