Science Quickly An Asteroid May Hit Earth in 2032. What Can We Do about It?
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Feb 12, 2025 Lee Billings, Senior space and physics editor for Scientific American, brings his expertise in space exploration to discuss the alarming asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a 2% chance of hitting Earth in 2032. He dives into how astronomers use sophisticated technologies like the ATLAS system to track such asteroids. The conversation also highlights the importance of international collaboration in preparing for potential impact scenarios, drawing parallels to historical events like the Tunguska incident, and stressing the need for continuous monitoring and updates.
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Asteroid Impact Risk
- Asteroid 2024 YR4 has a small chance of hitting Earth in 2032, raising concerns.
- Its low probability, above 1%, makes it noteworthy and triggers specific protocols.
Asteroid Detection
- The Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) detected 2024 YR4.
- ATLAS identifies moving objects by comparing images, flagging potential threats.
Rarity and Concern
- A 1% or higher impact risk is rare; the last similar case was asteroid Apophis.
- These odds usually decrease with more data, but 2024 YR4's timeline is concerning.