A recently discovered asteroid, named 2024 YR4, has caught the attention of scientists due to the possibility of colliding with Earth in the year 2032. Although this asteroid has been classified with a relatively low risk, it has been assigned a level 3 on the Torino Scale, suggesting it needs monitoring by astronomers.
To gather more information about 2024 YR4, a detailed analysis will be conducted this month using the James Webb Space Telescope. This analysis will allow for more precise determination of both the size and composition of the asteroid, providing crucial data to refine predictions of its future trajectory.
Among the possible planetary defense methods against asteroids is the kinetic impact technique, which involves sending spacecraft to collide with the asteroid and thus alter its course through the generated momentum. With an estimated diameter between 40 and 90 meters, asteroid 2024 YR4 has led to an increase in the probability of impact by 2.6%, making it one of the most significant threats identified by NASA since 2004.
