Asteroid 2024 YR4, which was initially observed in December 2024, has caused international alarm as it has the potential to hit Earth on December 22, 2032. Current calculations have heightened the chances of impact from 1% to 2.3%, ranking it at level 3 on the Torino scale—a ranking of the potential hazard of near-Earth objects. So Astronomers discover 196-foot asteroid with 1-in-83 chance of hitting Earth
Risk Corridor and Regions to be Affected
NASA has computed a “risk corridor” for asteroid 2024 YR4, the areas that would be impacted if the asteroid were to hit Earth. The corridor runs from northern South America across the Pacific to southern Asia, the Arabian Sea, and Africa. Some of the nations in the corridor include:
India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Ethiopia
Sudan
Nigeria
Venezuela
Colombia
Ecuador
These nations are considered at risk in the event of an impact.
China’s Planetary Defense Missions
Because of the theoretical threat posed by asteroid 2024 YR4, China has started building a planetary defense system. The State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) is recruiting professionals in aerospace engineering, international coordination, and asteroid detection. This mission is aimed at enhancing China’s near-Earth object detection and mitigation capabilities.
International Cooperation and Mitigation Strategies
The find of asteroid 2024 YR4 has prompted global cooperation among space agencies, with NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and China’s space agency working together. The attempts are underway to precisely calculate the asteroid’s size and orbit since these are important factors in determining the possible impact. The James Webb Space Telescope is one of the instruments being used to make more precise measurements.
Several ways of mitigating the problem are being considered, including kinetic impactors and nuclear explosions, as a way to deflect the asteroid if necessary. However, experts caution that time may be very short for us to properly use these techniques.
Conclusion
Though there is a very small chance of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth, identifying the risk corridor indicates the need for continued monitoring and readiness. Continued study and global cooperation are required to define the threat properly and to develop sufficient response strategies in case of need.