Latest news with #PaulChodas
South China Morning Post
26-02-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
‘City killer' asteroid 2024 YR4 no longer a threat to Earth, scientists say
Scientists have finally given the all-clear to Earth from a newly discovered asteroid Advertisement After two months of observations, scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4, Nasa and the European Space Agency said Tuesday. At one point, the odds of a strike in 2032 were as high as about 3 per cent and topped the world's asteroid-risk lists. ESA has since lowered the odds to 0.001 per cent. Nasa has it down to 0.0017 per cent – meaning the asteroid will safely pass Earth in 2032 and there's no threat of impact for the next century. Paul Chodas, who heads Nasa's Centre for Near Earth Objects Studies, said there was no chance the odds would rise at this point and that an impact in 2032 has been ruled out. Advertisement 'That's the outcome we expected all along, although we couldn't be 100 per cent sure that it would happen,' he said in an email. But there was still a 1.7 per cent chance that asteroid could hit the moon on December 22, 2032, according to Nasa. Chodas expects the odds of a moon strike will also fade.
Voice of America
26-02-2025
- Science
- Voice of America
Newly discovered asteroid will bypass Earth
Earth is not in danger of being hit by an asteroid in the near future, NASA and the European Space Agency said Tuesday. The proclamations from the two agencies came after an asteroid dubbed 2024 YR4, discovered in December, had scientists speculating that it could strike Earth in December 2032. Scientists now project the asteroid will simply fly past our planet. That's a good thing, because an asteroid that big, measuring 40 to 90 meters across, could cause a lot of damage. After two months of observation, scientists have significantly reduced the odds of the asteroid hitting Earth. At one point the likelihood of a strike was as high as 3%. ESA has reduced the odds to 0.001%, while NASA has reduced its odds to 0.0027%. "That's the outcome we expected all along, although we couldn't be 100% sure that it would happen," said Paul Chodas, who heads up NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. The odds changed because the world's telescopes were able to track the asteroid, narrowing where a strike could occur and increasingly ruling out the odds of a direct hit. The asteroid is moving away from Earth and is expected to disappear from view in one or two months. "While this asteroid no longer poses a significant impact hazard to Earth, 2024 YR4 provided an invaluable opportunity" for study, NASA said in a statement. NASA cautioned, however, that there is a small chance the asteroid could hit the moon in 2032. The probability, according to NASA, of that happening currently stands at 1.7%. NASA's Chodas thinks those odds will likely dwindle, too.
Sky News
25-02-2025
- Science
- Sky News
'No chance' of impact from asteroid 2024 YR4, say space agencies
An asteroid that had a very small chance of hitting Earth is no longer a potential threat, according to scientists. The 2024 YR4 asteroid climbed to the top of the risk list earlier this month when the chance of a collision in 2032 tripled from 1.2% to about 3% (about one in 33). It first set off warning systems in December after being spotted through telescopes in Chile, travelling around 38,000mph. Professor Brian Cox had even talked of a possible "deflection mission" if the risk did not drop. But anyone faintly worried about a potential Armageddon scenario can now rest easy - the European Space Agency has slashed the chance of impact on Earth to 0.001%, and NASA to 0.0017%. The US space agency said it poses "no significant impact risk to Earth in 2032 and beyond". Paul Chodas, head of NASA 's near-Earth objects studies, said the odds wouldn't rise again and an impact had been ruled out. "That's the outcome we expected all along, although we couldn't be 100% sure that it would happen," he said. Telescopes will continue to track the asteroid as it moves away, with the Webb Space Telescope hoping to pinpoint its size. Estimates had put it between 40-90 metres wide (130-300ft). "While this asteroid no longer poses a significant impact hazard to Earth, 2024 YR4 provided an invaluable opportunity" for study, NASA added. There is a very small chance that 2024 YR4 will "impact the moon" on 22 December 2032. That probability is currently 1.7%.
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-02-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Is No Longer a Threat to Earth, Scientists Say
Scientists have finally given the all-clear to Earth from a newly discovered asteroid. After two months of observations, scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4, NASA and the European Space Agency said Tuesday. At one point, the odds of a strike in 2032 were as high as about 3% and topped the world's asteroid-risk lists. ESA has since lowered the odds to 0.001%. NASA had it down to 0.0027% — meaning the asteroid will safely pass Earth in 2032 and there's no threat of impact for the next century. Paul Chodas, who heads NASA's Center for Near Earth Objects Studies, said there is no chance the odds will rise at this point and that an impact in 2032 has been ruled out. "That's the outcome we expected all along, although we couldn't be 100% sure that it would happen," he said in an email. But there's still a 1.7% chance that asteroid could hit the moon on Dec. 22, 2032, according to NASA. Chodas expects the odds of a moon strike will also fade. The world's telescopes will continue to track the asteroid as it heads away from us, with the Webb Space Telescope zooming in next month to pinpoint its size. It's expected to vanish from view in another month or two. Discovered in December, the asteroid is an estimated 130 feet to 300 feet (40 meters to 90 meters) across, and swings our way every four years. "While this asteroid no longer poses a significant impact hazard to Earth, 2024 YR4 provided an invaluable opportunity" for study, NASA said in a statement.
Chicago Tribune
25-02-2025
- Science
- Chicago Tribune
Asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer a threat to Earth, scientists say
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Scientists have finally given the all-clear to Earth from a newly discovered asteroid. After two months of observations, scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4, NASA and the European Space Agency said Tuesday. At one point, the odds of a strike in 2032 were as high as about 3% and topped the world's asteroid-risk lists. ESA has since lowered the odds to 0.001%. NASA had it down to 0.0027% — meaning the asteroid will safely pass Earth in 2032 and there's no threat of impact for the next century. Paul Chodas, who heads NASA's Center for Near Earth Objects Studies, said there is no chance the odds will rise at this point and that an impact in 2032 has been ruled out. 'That's the outcome we expected all along, although we couldn't be 100% sure that it would happen,' he said in an email. But there's still a 1.7% chance that asteroid could hit the moon on Dec. 22, 2032, according to NASA. Chodas expects the odds of a moon strike will also fade. The world's telescopes will continue to track the asteroid as it heads away from us, with the Webb Space Telescope zooming in next month to pinpoint its size. It's expected to vanish from view in another month or two. Discovered in December, the asteroid is an estimated 130 feet to 300 feet (40 meters to 90 meters) across, and swings our way every four years. 'While this asteroid no longer poses a significant impact hazard to Earth, 2024 YR4 provided an invaluable opportunity' for study, NASA said in a statement. Originally Published: February 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM CST
