CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A newly discovered asteroid has a small chance of hitting Earth in 2032, NASA officials said Wednesday.
Scientists estimate the chances of an impact are just over 1%.
“We’re not worried at all, given the 99 percent chance that it won’t hit us,” said Paul Chodas, director of NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. “But it deserves our attention.”
The near-Earth asteroid was first detected last month by a telescope in Chile. It was designated 2024 YR4 and has an estimated size of between 40 and 100 meters (130 and 330 feet) in diameter.
Scientists are keeping a close eye on the space rock, which is currently hurtling away from Earth. As the asteroid's path around the Sun becomes better understood, Chodas and others said there's a good chance the risk to Earth could be reduced to zero.……..
https://apnews.com/article/newly-discovered-asteroid-nasa-space-6f81d82acc55c899764d2a900d33f1d0