Asteroid on Collision Course with Earth

A Colossal Explosion in the Sky

A colossal explosion in the sky, unleashing energy hundreds of times greater than the Hiroshima bomb. A blinding flash nearly as bright as the Sun. Shockwaves powerful enough to flatten everything for miles.

It may sound apocalyptic, but a newly detected asteroid nearly the size of a football field now has a greater than 1% chance of colliding with Earth in about eight years.

Rare Finding

Dubbed 2024 YR4, the asteroid was first spotted on Dec 27, 2024, by the El Sauce Observatory in Chile. Based on its brightness, astronomers estimate it is between 40–90 metres wide.

By New Year’s Eve, it had landed on the desk of Kelly Fast, acting planetary defence officer at US space agency Nasa, as an object of concern.

Destructive Potential

The most infamous asteroid impact occurred 66 million years ago, when a six-mile-wide space rock triggered a global winter, wiping out the dinosaurs and 75% of all species.

By contrast, 2024 YR4 falls into the “city killer” category.

“If you put it over Paris or London or New York, you basically wipe out the whole city and some of the environs,” said Betts.

What We Can Do

The good news, experts stress, is that we have plenty of time to prepare.

Rivkin led the investigation for Nasa’s 2022 DART mission, which successfully nudged an asteroid off its course using a spacecraft – a strategy known as a “kinetic impactor.”

The target asteroid posed no threat to Earth, making it an ideal test subject.

FAQs

Q: What is the probability of the asteroid hitting Earth?
A: According to Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, there is a 1.6% chance the asteroid will strike Earth on December 22, 2032.

Q: If the asteroid does hit, where could it strike?
A: Possible impact sites include the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and South Asia.

Q: Can we stop the asteroid from hitting Earth?
A: Yes, experts say that with enough warning time, we can prepare to deflect or disrupt the asteroid’s trajectory.

Q: How does the asteroid compare to other impactors?
A: 2024 YR4 falls into the “city killer” category, unlike the six-mile-wide space rock that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Conclusion

While the prospect of a massive asteroid impacting Earth is a daunting one, experts are heartened by the fact that we have plenty of time to prepare. With ongoing research and technological advancements, it is possible to deflect or disrupt the asteroid’s trajectory, mitigating the destructive potential. Let us continue to monitor the asteroid’s path and work together to ensure the safety of our planet.