A 2% chance of an asteroid strike is 'uncommon,' officials say.
The chances of an asteroid striking Earth within the next decade has doubled in a matter of weeks, according to NASA astronomers.
The asteroid, discovered just after Christmas and named 2024 YR4, could strike the planet in December 2032 as it approaches during another journey around its orbit, according to NASA'sWhen the detection of the asteroid was announced last month, NASA predicted just a 1.3% probability of it hitting Earth. The likelihood has increased to 2.1%.
The object was discovered in late December as it made a close approach towards Earth, but it is now moving away, Farnocchia said.The elongated shape of the orbit takes the asteroid around the sun and into Earth's vicinity before it ventures far out between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Because of the unusual orbit, the asteroid will disappear starting in April until 2028, according to NASA.
NASA Infrared Telescope Facility atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The IRTF is a venerable 30-year-old, 3-meter-diameter 10-foot telescope that ranks 40th among ground-based telescopes.The uncertainty surrounding this space rock is still prominent as astronomers race to find out as much as they can about the asteroid before they lose sight of it.
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