The asteroid 2024 YR4 should not affect the earth
Do you remember the asteroid 2024 YR4? This rock, 40 to 100 meters long and discovered by the Atlas telescope in Chile in December 2024, had a chance in 43 to strike the earth in December 2032. This threat had been taken very seriously by astronomers, before additional observations reduced the risk of collision to almost zero.
“A non -zero probability of impacting the moon”
Indeed, according to a report led by the planetary astronomer Andrew Rivkin from Johns Hopkins University, 2024 YR4 would have a little chance of touching the moon. “It continues to have a non-zero probability of impacting the moon at that time”, Can we read in this report.
Andrew Rivkin and his team also said that the asteroid is about 60 meters in diameter. According to Sciencethe researchers said that an impact with the earth could release between 2 and 30 TNT megatons, with a radius of explosion up to 80 kilometers.
The impacts of an asteroid on the moon
The impact of an asteroid that would touch the moon can have several consequences. First, the asteroid, whether small or large, will form a crater at the time of the impact. This is why the moon is covered with craters. It does not have an atmosphere to brake meteorites and asteroids.
In addition, the impact can eject materials from the surface of the moon which could represent a risk for the earth. Next observations should take place next May, then in 2026, which will allow experts to determine with precision the orbit and the composition of the asteroid 2024 YR4, according to Sciencealart.
Source: Sciencealerlet
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