Asteroid’s Chances of Smacking Earth Increase. Here’s What to Know

It’s not great news, but don’t panic: Astronomers spotted an asteroid that has a roughly 3.1% chance of impacting Earth on Dec. 22, 2032. Space agencies are monitoring the newly discovered asteroid and still learning more about its size and path, so don’t mark your calendar for doomsday just yet. 

Although the odds of the asteroid hitting Earth have increased recently, that number is not set in stone. There’s still a lot to learn about the space rock.

Designated 2024 YR4, the asteroid was first reported by the Minor Planet Center on Dec. 27. The MPC, part of the International Astronomical Union, maintains an official catalog of near-Earth objects like asteroids and comets. It reports, names and numbers new discoveries. Multiple observatories spotted the asteroid.

The European Space Agency placed 2024 YR4 at the top of its asteroid risk list. Similarly, the space rock now has the top spot on NASA’s Sentry risk list. The Sentry list contains all known near-Earth asteroids with a nonzero probability of striking Earth. 

Rating asteroids and their impact hazards

Torino Impact Hazard Scale in numbered bands of color from white to red. Text: No Hazard (White Zone) 0 The likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero. Also applies to small objects such as meteors and bodies that burn up in the atmosphere as well as infrequent meteorite falls that rarely cause damage. Normal (Green Zone) 1 A routine discovery in which a pass near the Earth is predicted that poses no unusual level of danger. Current calculations show the chance of collision is extremely unlikely with no cause for public attention or public concern. New telescopic observations very likely will lead to re-assignment to Level 0. Meriting Attention by Astronomers (Yellow Zone) 2 A discovery, which may become routine with expanded searches, of an object making a somewhat close but not highly unusual pass near the Earth. While meriting attention by astronomers, there is no cause for public attention or public concern as an actual collision is very unlikely. New telescopic observations very likely will lead to re-assignment to Level 0. 3 A close encounter, meriting attention by astronomers. Current calculations give a 1% or greater chance of collision capable of localized destruction. Most likely, new telescopic observations will lead to re-assignment to Level 0. Attention by public and by public officials is merited if the encounter is less than a decade away. 4 A close encounter, meriting attention by astronomers. Current calculations give a 1% or greater chance of collision capable of regional devastation. Most likely, new telescopic observations will lead to re-assignment to Level 0. Attention by public and by public officials is merited if the encounter is less than a decade away. Threatening (Orange Zone) 5 A close encounter posing a serious, but still uncertain threat of regional devastation. Critical attention by astronomers is needed to determine conclusively whether or not a collision will occur. If the encounter is less than a decade away, governmental contingency planning may be warranted. 6 A close encounter by a large object posing a serious but still uncertain threat of a global catastrophe. Critical attention by astronomers is needed to determine conclusively whether or not a collision will occur. If the encounter is less than three decades away, governmental contingency planning may be warranted. 7 A very close encounter by a large object, which if occurring over the next century, poses an unprecedented but still uncertain threat of a global catastrophe. For such a threat, international contingency planning is warranted, especially to determine urgently and conclusively whether or not a collision will occur. Certain Collisions (Red Zone) 8 A collision is certain, capable of causing localized destruction for an impact over land or possibly a tsunami if close offshore. Such events occur on average between once per 50 years and once per several 1000 years. 9 A collision is certain, capable of causing unprecedented regional devastation for a land impact or the threat of a major tsunami for an ocean impact. Such events occur on average between once per 10,000 years and once per 100,000 years. 10 A collision is certain, capable of causing global climatic catastrophe that may threaten the future of civilization as we know it, whether impacting land or ocean. Such events occur on average once per 100,000 years, or less often.


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Torino Impact Hazard Scale in numbered bands of color from white to red. Text: No Hazard (White Zone) 0 The likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero. Also applies to small objects such as meteors and bodies that burn up in the atmosphere as well as infrequent meteorite falls that rarely cause damage. Normal (Green Zone) 1 A routine discovery in which a pass near the Earth is predicted that poses no unusual level of danger. Current calculations show the chance of collision is extremely unlikely with no cause for public attention or public concern. New telescopic observations very likely will lead to re-assignment to Level 0. Meriting Attention by Astronomers (Yellow Zone) 2 A discovery, which may become routine with expanded searches, of an object making a somewhat close but not highly unusual pass near the Earth. While meriting attention by astronomers, there is no cause for public attention or public concern as an actual collision is very unlikely. New telescopic observations very likely will lead to re-assignment to Level 0. 3 A close encounter, meriting attention by astronomers. Current calculations give a 1% or greater chance of collision capable of localized destruction. Most likely, new telescopic observations will lead to re-assignment to Level 0. Attention by public and by public officials is merited if the encounter is less than a decade away. 4 A close encounter, meriting attention by astronomers. Current calculations give a 1% or greater chance of collision capable of regional devastation. Most likely, new telescopic observations will lead to re-assignment to Level 0. Attention by public and by public officials is merited if the encounter is less than a decade away. Threatening (Orange Zone) 5 A close encounter posing a serious, but still uncertain threat of regional devastation. Critical attention by astronomers is needed to determine conclusively whether or not a collision will occur. If the encounter is less than a decade away, governmental contingency planning may be warranted. 6 A close encounter by a large object posing a serious but still uncertain threat of a global catastrophe. Critical attention by astronomers is needed to determine conclusively whether or not a collision will occur. If the encounter is less than three decades away, governmental contingency planning may be warranted. 7 A very close encounter by a large object, which if occurring over the next century, poses an unprecedented but still uncertain threat of a global catastrophe. For such a threat, international contingency planning is warranted, especially to determine urgently and conclusively whether or not a collision will occur. Certain Collisions (Red Zone) 8 A collision is certain, capable of causing localized destruction for an impact over land or possibly a tsunami if close offshore. Such events occur on average between once per 50 years and once per several 1000 years. 9 A collision is certain, capable of causing unprecedented regional devastation for a land impact or the threat of a major tsunami for an ocean impact. Such events occur on average between once per 10,000 years and once per 100,000 years. 10 A collision is certain, capable of causing global climatic catastrophe that may threaten the future of civilization as we know it, whether impacting land or ocean. Such events occur on average once per 100,000 years, or less often.

The Torino Impact Hazard Scale rates potential asteroid and comet impacts. The newly discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 sits in the middle of the yellow zone with a 3 rating. White is no hazard; red is the most hazardous.

NASA

The asteroid is rated a 3 out of 10 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, a tool used for categorizing potential impacts. That means 2024 YR4 merits attention from astronomers, the public and public officials, since a possible strike is less than a decade away. 

“An object that reaches this level is not uncommon; there have been several objects in the past that have reached this same rating and eventually dropped off as more data have come in,” NASA said in a statement on Jan. 29. 

The highest level on the Torino Scale is a 10, which indicates a certain collision capable of catastrophic damage on a global level.

Current data shows 2024 YR4 is the only known large asteroid with an impact probability above 1%. The asteroid’s numbers have been inching up. It started at a roughly 1% impact probability, then NASA revised that to 2.3% on Feb. 7. Now, the Sentry entry for 2024 YR4 shows 3.1%. 

“Note that often, counterintuitively, the odds of impact go up before they drop to zero,” said Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts in a statement in January. Betts noted the increase is usually temporary. Scientists will build a more accurate picture of the asteroid’s future path as additional data comes in. 

“The key takeaway is the increase is expected at this stage and is not a cause for concern,” Planetary Society spokesperson Danielle Gunn told CNET over email.

NASA reminds people there’s currently a 96.9% chance the asteroid won’t hit our planet. Those are strong odds in our favor.

Size estimates of asteroid 2024 YR4

The NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Chile captured imagery of asteroid 2024 YR4.

ATLAS

The asteroid is estimated to be between 130 and 300 feet wide. For scale, the Statue of Liberty (pedestal included) is about 300 feet tall. That’s worrisome for an asteroid, but it’s not a “planet killer.” 

“An asteroid this size impacts Earth on average every few thousand years and could cause severe damage to a local region,” the ESA said in a statement. That’s why you might see the asteroid referred to as a “city killer” in some headlines.

The James Webb Space Telescope will set its sights on the asteroid in March to get a better idea of the space rock’s size. NASA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what Webb could tell us about 2024 YR4.

What’s next for asteroid 2024 YR4

Illustration of two gray asteroids with NASA's boxy solar-powered DART spacecraft nearby.


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Illustration of two gray asteroids with NASA's boxy solar-powered DART spacecraft nearby.

NASA’s DART spacecraft redirected an asteroid in 2022.

NASA/John Hopkins APL

Space agencies and organizations are coordinating efforts to track the asteroid and better understand its trajectory and size. 

The asteroid is currently on the move away from Earth. The ESA is planning a series of observations that will include the use of the powerful Very Large Telescope in Chile. 

“It is possible that asteroid 2024 YR4 will fade from view before we are able to entirely rule out any chance of impact in 2032,” the ESA said. “In this case, the asteroid will likely remain on ESA’s risk list until it becomes observable again in 2028.”

NASA and other space agencies have been working on planetary defense options in the case of a dangerous asteroid. NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission successfully redirected an asteroid moonlet by smashing a spacecraft into it in 2022. The ESA suggested a spacecraft-based response may be explored if 2024 YR4 turns out to be a serious threat.

NASA has a page dedicated to 2024 YR4 so the public can stay updated on the latest information about the asteroid. 

New information could emerge about the asteroid over the next few months. In the best-case scenario, it will be downgraded from “uh-oh” to “everything’s fine, no need to worry.” 

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