The “city killer” asteroid in the collision course? NASA warns the risks of Earth affecting this date: Everything you need to know | World News
NASA A designated asteroid for 2024 has been identified, hitting Earth at 3.1% chance December 22, 2032, Marking the most important impact risk for modern forecast records. Although this probability has attracted global attention, experts assured the public that there is no immediate cause of alarm as space agencies around the world continue to closely monitor their trajectory.
Asteroid 2024: Size, Speed and Potential Impact
On December 27, 2023, the 2024-wide width was 130 to 300 feet (40-90 meters) by the El Sauce Observatory in Chile. Although its composition seems to be typical of near-Earth objects, its speed is 40,000 miles per hour– Concerns about possible damage if you enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
“If there is any impact, the most likely situation is an explosion of air.” Such an explosion could release an energy equivalent to eight megatons of TNT, which is 500 times more powerful,” explains Bruce Betts, chief scientist at the Planetary Society. Hiroshima bomb. However, if the asteroid is closer to the higher end of its size estimate, it may produce ground impacts on the crater, thus amplifying potential damage.
Tracking threats: Global space agencies stay alert
After the probability of an asteroid’s impact exceeds 1%, the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) issued a formal warning on January 29, 2024. Since then, the risk level has fluctuated, although it continues to trend upward. The European Space Agency (ESA) currently estimates the probability of impact is slightly below 2.8%.
Despite growing concerns, experts believe this is not the entire disaster. “This is not a dinosaur killer. This is not a planet killer. It is the most dangerous for the city.”
James Webb Space Telescope to Perfect Trajectory Analysis
NASA plans to adopt the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to provide a more detailed observation of 2024 starting from March 2025. Currently, the move from Earth to Jupiter to Jupiter is currently not going to take another tight approach until 2028. JWST’s advanced imaging capabilities will help improve trajectory prediction. “Weber is able to see very, very dark things,” Betts notes. The role of telescopes in understanding potential impact risks.
Possible impact areas and preparation plans
IAWN identified several possible impact areas, including:
→East Pacific
→Northern South America
→Atlantic Ocean
→Africa
→Arabian Sea
→South Asia
Although these areas are being observed, experts stress that long lead times provide ample opportunities for preparation if intervention is necessary.
NASA’s previous success through its dual asteroid redirection test (dart) successfully changed the process of non-threatening asteroids in 2022, enhancing confidence in planetary defense strategies. Similar technologies can be deployed to redirect 2024 YR4 and prevent impact if needed.
Stay informed and don’t panic
Although the potential impact of asteroids has shown significant events in the history of space monitoring, experts stress that there is no immediate danger. Continuous tracking and advanced technology provide humans with tools to mitigate such risks.
