- NASA just increased the chances a “city-killing” asteroid will crash into Earth in 2032. The space agency, which declared the asteroid the most dangerous object near Earth, said the risk of impact currently stands at 2.6% in its latest update.
- The estimate is up from the 2.2% chance of impact reported by the space agencies on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
- Named the YR4 Asteroid, NASA estimates it has a 1 in 38 chance of hitting Earth, as opposed to a 1 in 45 chance the European Space Agency reported on Feb. 7.
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NASA just increased the chances a “city-killing” asteroid will crash into Earth with its latest update. Scientists said if the asteroid does hit the planet, it would create the same devastation as a nuclear bomb.
How much did NASA increase the risk?
The space agency, which declared the asteroid the most dangerous object near Earth, said the risk of impact currently stands at 2.6%. That number is up from the 2.2% chance of impact reported by space agencies on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
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Named the YR4 Asteroid, NASA estimates it has a 1 in 38 chance of hitting Earth, as opposed to a 1 in 45 chance the European Space Agency reported a few days earlier.
What would an impact look like?
If the asteroid were to strike Earth, scientists said its energy would be equivalent to that of a nuclear bomb, unleashing significant destruction within a 30-mile radius.
YR4 is estimated to be anywhere from 130 feet to 300 feet wide. For reference, the Statue of Liberty is 305 feet tall with its pedestal.
If an impact were to occur, scientists believe the most likely point of impact would be in the ocean. They noted, however, an impact on the sea could trigger tsunamis and other destructive forces of nature.
Are space agencies preparing for the scenario?
As Straight Arrow News previously reported, space agencies are keeping a close eye on the asteroid.
Beijing is even recruiting for a “planetary defense” unit to help monitor the asteroid and create an early warning system.
How would they protect Earth?
China’s method to eliminate the threat of the asteroid should it hurdle toward Earth is similar to that of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test or DART, which uses “kinetic impactors” to change the direction of an asteroid.
DART’s first mission in 2022 successfully changed the trajectory of an asteroid.
