NASA makes rare move to save humanity as city-sized asteroid increases its chances of hitting Earth

NASA made an ‘emergency’ move recently as the odds of a ‘city-killer’ asteroid hitting Earth rose. Asteroid 2024 YR4, initially estimated to have a 1.2% chance of collision on December 22, 2032, now has a 2.3% probability, raising concerns among astronomers.

The asteroid, measuring between 40 and 90 meters (130 to 300 feet), is comparable in size to landmarks like the Statue of Liberty or Big Ben and a possible collision with Earth can wreak massive destruction.

Global Space Agencies Take Action

In response to this increased threat, NASA and other space agencies have been granted an ‘emergency’ and rare permission to use the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe and measure the asteroid and help determine its exact size and orbit.

A Daily Mail report stated that the 2024 YR4 asteroid could either be 40 or 90 meters across. Improving our size estimate for 2024 YR4 is critical because the hazard represented by a 40-meter asteroid differs significantly from that of a 90-meter one.

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Observations and Risk Assessment

The JWST is set to make two key observations of the asteroid in March and May, coinciding with its peak brightness and final visibility until 2028. Thereafter, these observations will provide valuable data to refine the asteroid's size and trajectory.

According to the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), the asteroid's “risk corridor” spans regions including the eastern Pacific Ocean, South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and South Asia. A potential collision could cause severe blast damage within a 50-kilometer radius.

Planetary Defense Strategies

The JWST's findings will aid in planning planetary defence measures, such as deflecting the asteroid if necessary. Experts estimate that a collision with 2024 YR4 could release energy equivalent to 15 megatons of TNT, making it 100 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.

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While the asteroid is not expected to cause an extinction-level event, scientists stated that with increased observation the risk would come to near zero.