NASA Confirms Fast-Moving Asteroid Near Moon
The Moon is usually calm and steady in our sky, a familiar and bright presence shaping tides and inspiring stories. However, NASA recently issued an urgent update about a fast-moving object from deep space that may pose a threat to the Moon.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Detected by James Webb Space Telescope
Scientists have focused attention on an asteroid named 2024 YR4 after observations by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in May 2024. This rocky asteroid, about the size of a 10-story building, showed unusual movement patterns that raised concern among astronomers.
Potential Impact Risk on the Moon
While Earth remains unharmed, calculations indicate that the Moon could be in the path of this asteroid. Initial impact models revealed that 2024 YR4 has the highest known chance of hitting Earth among large asteroids recently observed, with an estimated 3.1% probability of impact by 2032.
"This probability is low in everyday terms, but significant enough in planetary defense to warrant serious attention," scientists noted.
The Role of Space Telescopes in Monitoring Near-Earth Objects
Space telescopes like Hubble and JWST have revolutionized our understanding of the universe, revealing galaxy formations, distant worlds, and smaller objects passing near Earth. Their data is crucial for early detection and defense against potential cosmic threats.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 is one of the recent objects tracked closely thanks to these advanced tools.
Summary
NASA confirms a fast-moving asteroid detected by JWST, 2024 YR4, may strike the Moon by 2032; while Earth remains safe, this highlights the vital role of space telescopes in planetary defense.