Earth could be bombarded with shrapnel if huge asteroid hits the Moon

Earth could be hit by lunar debris if asteroid 2024 YR4 collides with the Moon seven years from now, scientists have warned.

The 60-meter-wide asteroid has a 4.3% chance of striking the Moon on December 22, 2032, according to current estimates. If the impact occurs, fragments from the collision could be propelled toward Earth, potentially damaging satellites in orbit.

Simulations conducted by Dr. Paul Wiegert of Western University in Ontario suggest that 2024 YR4 could hit the lunar surface at a speed of 46,800 km/h, creating a crater nearly one kilometer wide.

If the asteroid hits the right spot, between 10% and 30% of the debris could be redirected toward Earth, Wiegert’s models show.

Speaking to New Scientist, Dr. Wiegert explained: “We were a little bit surprised at the possibility of there being a substantial amount of material at the Earth. Intuitively, the Earth is actually quite a small target when seen from the Moon, and so your intuition is that not very much material would actually hit the Earth—but it turns out that the Earth’s gravity can focus that material under certain conditions.”

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