Latest news with #YR4
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
This asteroid may hit the Moon in 2032 and Earth could witness a meteor shower
Scientists have been tracking asteroid 2024 YR4 since it popped onto the radar late last year. It is not headed towards the Earth anymore, but there is still a 4% chance it could collide with the Moon in 2032. According to a new study, which is still under peer review, if the asteroid does hit the lunar surface, it could dig out a crater over half a mile wide and blast debris straight into space. Asteroid 2024 YR4 was discovered last year(Unsplash) Some of that junk could cross paths with the Earth, possibly creating a rare meteor shower and putting low-orbit satellites at risk. And while a space rock slamming into the Moon sounds like sci-fi, scientists are not ruling it out yet. A few inches of rock, a lot of chaos According to Fox News, the asteroid is small by cosmic standards - just 175 to 220 feet across, or roughly the height of a 15-story building. But with enough speed and the right angle, it could do real damage. On March 26, 2025, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope locked onto it, confirming its rocky, jagged surface and surprisingly reflective body. It is the tiniest object Webb has targeted so far. If the asteroid does hit, simulations show it will strike somewhere on the Moon's southern half. The result? A violent spray of lunar rock, with some bits possibly reaching the Earth's orbit. The debris would not wipe out satellites, but small fragments could pepper them for weeks - or months - causing damage, even temporary outages. 'Hundreds to thousands of impacts from mm-sized debris' could be scattered across the satellite fleet, the researchers wrote. What more to expect? If even a sliver of that ejected lunar material hits Earth's atmosphere, we would see it really fast. 'The resulting meteor shower could last a few days and be spectacular,' the study says. Because the debris would be moving slowly by meteor standards, the light show might be a little more subdued than usual but still visible. The real concern, though, is not what we would see - it's what we might lose. NASA's upcoming Lunar Gateway, a space station planned to orbit the Moon, could face serious danger from impact fragments. Until 2028, when the asteroid comes back into view, scientists won't have much more to go on. FAQs Is asteroid 2024 YR4 going to hit Earth? No, current data shows it poses no threat to the planet. Will it hit the Moon? Yes, though the odds are low, about 4%. But there's still a chance. When would it strike the Moon? If it does, scientists estimate the impact could happen in 2032.
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Asteroid 2024 YR4 may smash into moon, wipe out 10,000 satellites, and trigger meteor showers on earth
Asteroid 2024 YR4: Scientists detected Asteroid 2024 YR4. It may hit the Moon. There is a 4% chance of impact. A collision could create a large crater. Lunar debris might trigger meteor showers on Earth. This poses a risk to thousands of satellites. Spacecraft orbiting the Moon could also face danger. Impacts may damage satellites in the near future. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Will Asteroid 2024 YR4 Hit the Moon? Scientists Warn of Lunar Impact Risk Size of Asteroid 2024 YR4 and the Scale of Potential Moon Crater Could Lunar Debris from the Impact Trigger Meteor Showers on Earth? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Over 10,000 Satellites at Risk If Lunar Debris Reaches Earth Orbit FAQs was detected by scientists and raises warnings of a close possibility to hit thein the near future, as per a report. Although there is only a 4% possibility of impact, the experts caution that in case it hits, its effects would ripple beyond our lunar neighbor and could pose a threat to thousands of satellites revolving around, as well as throw spectacularinto Earth, as per The Express last year, asteroid 2024 YR4 initially caused panic as it appeared to be heading straight for Earth, briefly earning a high threat level on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, according to the report. But follow-up observations, including crucial data from, reassured scientists that Earth itself is not at risk at present, as per The Express. Instead, attention has shifted to the Moon, where the asteroid might still make a dramatic impact, according to the READ: Who will inherit Ozzy Osbourne's $220 million fortune? Here's who gets what It measures between 175 to 220 feet wide, and it is wide enough that if it were to strike the Moon, it would create a crater of more than half a mile in diameter, the largest lunar impact in about 5,000 years, according to The at thesubmitted a study for review that found that the impact of the asteroid on the Moon could eject lunar debris into space and toward Earth, as reported by The READ: Before Sharon: Meet the first Mrs Osbourne who wiped Ozzy from her life completely The potential meteor shower would be a risk to the thousands ofthat orbit Earth, as per the report. With more than 10,000 operational satellites and more than 25,000 pieces of space trash in low-Earth orbit, the incoming space junk has the potential to cause collisions, damage, and disruptions that would last for a days, according to The have warned that the debris could pose a 'serious hazard to moon-orbiting spacecraft,' such as NASA's Lunar Gateway, and could be an 'even greater danger' to surface operations on the moon, as reported by The authors explained, 'Given the very large total exposed area for satellites by 2032, it becomes possible that hundreds to thousands of impacts from mm-sized debris ejected by a lunar impact from 2024 YR4 will be experienced across the entire satellite fleet," adding, 'Such impacts may damage satellites, but are small enough to generally not end active missions or cause breakups,' as quoted in The about a 4% chance it could collide with the Moon within the next Scientists have confirmed that Earth is currently safe from this asteroid.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Asteroid 2024 YR4 may smash into moon, wipe out 10,000 satellites, and trigger meteor showers on earth
Asteroid 2024 YR4 was detected by scientists and raises warnings of a close possibility to hit the Moon in the near future, as per a report. Although there is only a 4% possibility of impact, the experts caution that in case it hits, its effects would ripple beyond our lunar neighbor and could pose a threat to thousands of satellites revolving around Earth , as well as throw spectacular meteor showers into Earth, as per The Express report. Will Asteroid 2024 YR4 Hit the Moon? Scientists Warn of Lunar Impact Risk Discovered last year, asteroid 2024 YR4 initially caused panic as it appeared to be heading straight for Earth, briefly earning a high threat level on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, according to the report. But follow-up observations, including crucial data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope , reassured scientists that Earth itself is not at risk at present, as per The Express. Instead, attention has shifted to the Moon, where the asteroid might still make a dramatic impact, according to the report. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Finance Management Healthcare Degree Leadership Cybersecurity Technology MBA PGDM Operations Management CXO Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Digital Marketing Project Management healthcare Data Science others Design Thinking MCA Others Public Policy Product Management Data Science Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta SEPO - IIMC CFO India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Fintech & Blockchain India Starts on undefined Get Details ALSO READ: Who will inherit Ozzy Osbourne's $220 million fortune? Here's who gets what Size of Asteroid 2024 YR4 and the Scale of Potential Moon Crater It measures between 175 to 220 feet wide, and it is wide enough that if it were to strike the Moon, it would create a crater of more than half a mile in diameter, the largest lunar impact in about 5,000 years, according to The Express. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Could Lunar Debris from the Impact Trigger Meteor Showers on Earth? Scientists at the University of Western Ontario and Athabasca University in Canada submitted a study for review that found that the impact of the asteroid on the Moon could eject lunar debris into space and toward Earth, as reported by The Express. ALSO READ: Before Sharon: Meet the first Mrs Osbourne who wiped Ozzy from her life completely Live Events Over 10,000 Satellites at Risk If Lunar Debris Reaches Earth Orbit The potential meteor shower would be a risk to the thousands of satellites that orbit Earth, as per the report. With more than 10,000 operational satellites and more than 25,000 pieces of space trash in low-Earth orbit, the incoming space junk has the potential to cause collisions, damage, and disruptions that would last for a days, according to The Express. Scientists have warned that the debris could pose a 'serious hazard to moon-orbiting spacecraft,' such as NASA's Lunar Gateway, and could be an 'even greater danger' to surface operations on the moon, as reported by The Express. The authors explained, 'Given the very large total exposed area for satellites by 2032, it becomes possible that hundreds to thousands of impacts from mm-sized debris ejected by a lunar impact from 2024 YR4 will be experienced across the entire satellite fleet," adding, 'Such impacts may damage satellites, but are small enough to generally not end active missions or cause breakups,' as quoted in The Express. FAQs How likely is asteroid 2024 YR4 to hit the Moon? There's about a 4% chance it could collide with the Moon within the next decade. Should I be worried about the asteroid hitting Earth? No. Scientists have confirmed that Earth is currently safe from this asteroid.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
‘City Killer' Asteroid Won't Hit Earth, But What Happens If It Slams Into The Moon?
Earth has dodged a celestial bullet, but the moon might not be so lucky, and that has scientists keeping their telescopes and minds trained on a massive asteroid called '2024 YR4.' That's not its official name, but more on that later. When it was first discovered, this asteroid had a very small chance of impacting Earth in December of 2032, but later observations concluded the space rock no longer poses any significant risk to our planet. Since then, additional data has helped experts refine the asteroid's potential trajectory and they say the probability of it striking the moon in 2032 has now risen to 4.3%. That's still a very small chance, but there could be some complications for our planet if that collision happens. (MORE: Lego Man's Epic Space Journey) Back To The Beginning 2024 YR4 first caught astronomers' attention in December 2024. It made headlines when its probability of impacting Earth got as high as 3%. It's so far away that it appears as just a tiny glimmer, but using infrared images captured by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, scientists estimate that it's the size of a 10-story building, about 200 feet in diameter. It's considered a near-Earth asteroid, meaning it's in an orbit that brings it within Earth's region of the solar system. Its size earned the asteroid the nickname 'city killer' since it could cause severe damage to a city or region if it struck Earth. 2024 YR4 is the temporary name given to the rock. While those who discovered it will get to suggest an official name, it could be months or years before that official name is decided by the International Astronomical Union. What Happens If It Strikes The Moon? If this asteroid hits the moon, scientists say it will make impact at a speed of tens of thousands of miles per hour. That would create a huge crater, but more importantly, it could also send fragments of moon rock and granular lunar material flying off the moon. While it's unlikely the Earth would face any significant danger from the lunar strike, that debris could put nearby astronauts at risk, as well as satellites that we depend on for GPS, cellphones, internet and weather forecasting. What about the International Space Station? Well that would be at risk, except that NASA plans to decommission and deorbit the ISS in 2031, a year before the asteroid's potential impact. (MORE: New Images Show Universe Like Never Before) Would We Be Able To See The Collision? The latest calculations from June suggest it's likely the asteroid could hit the near side of the moon, the side pointing towards us. So we could be able to see the once-in-a-lifetime collision here on Earth. Dr. Paul Wiegert, a physics and astronomy professor at Western University told Western News, 'If YR4 hits the moon, it will be the largest asteroid to have hit the moon in about 5,000 years. It's quite a rare event.' Wiegert says, 'People at home will be able to see the explosion with small telescopes or even binoculars.' He also says that if moon rock is launched into space, 'We should also get to see quite a spectacular meteor shower,' within a week of the collision. So What Now? Asteroid 2024 YR4 is currently too far away to detect with space or ground-based telescopes, as it orbits around the sun. But out of sight, does not mean out of mind – NASA expects to make more observations and collect new data when the asteroid's orbit brings it back into Earth's vicinity in 2028. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
a day ago
- Science
- New York Post
Massive asteroid on potential impact path with the Moon could trigger destructive meteor shower on earth
What happens if an asteroid the size of a 15-story building crashes into the Moon in 2032? While the chances of the newly discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting the Moon in seven years are slim – there is currently a 96% chance it won't happen – an impact of this size would not come without consequences for the Moon, astronauts and spacecraft orbiting Earth. A new study submitted for review by scientists with the University of Western Ontario and Athabasca University in Canada took observations from the James Webb Space Telescope of asteroid 2024 YR4 and used simulations to show how much lunar debris would be ejected out into space, sending pieces of the Moon toward Earth. After its initial discovery late last year, the asteroid appeared to have a small chance of impacting Earth, warranting international attention, and jumping to the highest asteroid threat ever given on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale. By February, more ground-based observations of the asteroid helped clear the threat to Earth, but the Moon still faces a possible impact. 3 Any lunar debris that makes it within Earth's atmosphere could create a meteor shower event over the planet. NASA Earlier this year, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope helped scientists determine that the asteroid is between 175 and 220 feet in diameter. If Asteroid 2024 YR4 crashes into the Moon, it would create a crater more than half a mile in diameter (1 km), becoming the largest impact in about 5,000 years, according to the study. Current calculations show, if it happens, an impact would occur on the Southern Hemisphere. The researchers said this impact would threaten satellites in low-Earth orbit for days or up to a few months, and send a fraction of the ejecta toward Earth. 3 The current impact corridor for 2024 YR4 (yellow) projected on a map of the Moonâs near side from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Any lunar debris that makes it within Earth's atmosphere could create a meteor shower event over the planet. 'The resulting meteor shower could last a few days and be spectacular, though the number of visible meteors somewhat muted by the low entry speed of ejecta,' the research team said. With more than 10,000 active satellites in low-Earth orbit and more than 25,000 pieces of space junk, researchers believe an asteroid strike to the Moon could spell trouble for satellite operators. 3 On March 26, 2025, NASAâs James Webb Space Telescope captured images of asteroid 2024 YR4 that indicate the asteroid is about the size of a 15-story building. NASA 'Given the very large total exposed area for satellites by 2032, it becomes possible that hundreds to thousands of impacts from mm-sized debris ejected by a lunar impact from 2024 YR4 will be experienced across the entire satellite fleet,' the study authors wrote. 'Such impacts may damage satellites, but are small enough to generally not end active missions or cause breakups.' The researchers say material from the Moon could be a 'serious hazard to moon-orbiting spacecraft' such as NASA's Lunar Gateway, a planned orbiting station for astronauts, and an 'even greater danger' to any lunar surface operations. Asteroid 2024 YR4 has moved behind the Sun, limiting any new observations until 2028. Scientists say those new observations in a few years will help improve lunar impact predictions.
