NASA issues worrying update on asteroid heading to the Moon

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer expected to collide with Earth, but NASA now estimates that the Moon may still be in its path.

According to the U.S. space agency, there is currently a 4.3% chance that the asteroid will strike Earth’s satellite on December 22, 2032. If it does, the impact could be visible from Earth, as ejected material may be seen from the surface.

The asteroid, discovered last year, initially caused alarm among scientists who feared a possible impact with Earth within the next seven years. However, new calculations have ruled out that scenario.

"As data comes in, it is normal for the impact probability to evolve," said Molly Wasser, public affairs officer for NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office.

NASA says no further updates on the asteroid’s trajectory will be possible before 2028, when it becomes observable again.

“With the additional data, experts from NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California further refined the asteroid's orbit,” Wasser added.

Even if 2024 YR4 were to strike the Moon, it would not affect Earth’s orbit around it, NASA has confirmed.

(QG - Source: The Daily Mail - Picture : © Unsplash)