Scientists have shared images of asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a small chance of hitting Earth. Discovered in December by a telescope in Chile, it tops the impact risk list. The asteroid could be the size of the Statue of Liberty or Cinderella’s Castle, and expert Dr. Robin George Andrews warned that trying to deflect it with rockets “could spark the end times.”
While the chance of collision is low—just “one-in-48”—NASA is closely monitoring it. On February 7, the Gemini South telescope in Chile captured a photo when the asteroid was 37 million miles from Earth. NASA astronomer Bryce Bolin said, “I find 2024 YR4 to be extremely exciting… Only a few asteroids have been studied like this.”
Getting the image was tough. Bolin explained, “We took 12 200-second long exposures… The asteroid was faint,” and moonlight made detection harder. It also moved rapidly, requiring precise tracking.
NASA had previously shared an image on December 27. The International Asteroid Warning Network continues to monitor 2024 YR4, which will remain visible through April.
