Scientists say Earth is no longer at risk from a recently discovered asteroid. After two months of observations, scientists have ruled out almost any possibility of a threat to our planet from asteroid 2024 YR4, NASA and the European Space Agency said Tuesday.
In recent weeks, scientists have estimated a 3% chance of the asteroid hitting our planet in 2032, topping the list of asteroid hazards. The European Space Agency has lowered the odds to 0.001%, while NASA says the risk of a collision is closer to 0.0017%. The estimates show that the asteroid will pass close to Earth in 2032 and there is no threat of a collision within the next century.
Paul Chodas, who directs NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, said there is no chance that the probability will increase and that the possibility of a collision in 2032 has been ruled out, A2 reports.
"This is the outcome we expected all along, although we couldn't be 100% sure it would happen," he said in an email.
But there is still a 1.7% chance that the asteroid could hit the moon on December 22, 2032, according to NASA. Mr. Chodas expects the chances to fade even then.
Telescopes around the world will continue to track the asteroid as it leaves our solar system. The Webb Space Telescope will attempt next month to accurately determine the size of the asteroid, which is expected to soon disappear from the telescopes' sights.
Discovered in December, the asteroid is believed to be 40 meters by 90 meters in size and orbits our solar system every four years.
"While asteroid 2024 YR4 no longer poses a significant risk of collision with Earth, it provided an invaluable opportunity" for research, NASA said in a statement./ Voice of America (A2 Televizion)
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