City-killer asteroid heading towards Earth: NASA to evaluate situation

At the moment, the space rock has a 2% chance of striking the Earth. The probable date on which it will reach the solar system is December 22. 2032.

American space agency NASA will be focussing its attention on an asteroid that is likely to strike the Earth by 2032-33. They will be using the James Webb Space Telescope to study the asteroid —2024 YR4—which has been deemed a potential 'city killer'.

It was first spotted in December 2024, and since then chances of the asteorid striking the Earth has increased, raising concerns of astronomers, as per the European Space Agency (ESA).

At the moment, the space rock has a 2 per cent chance of striking the Earth. The probable date on which it will reach the solar system is December 22. 2032.

The percentage of chance it has to strike the Earth has been increasing. Initially the ESA had put the chances of the asteorid striking the Earth at 1 per cent. Soon after, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA increased it marginally at 2 per cent.

The higher chance is of the asteroid passing by the solar system without any danger. However, the risk estimates are on the higher side for now because, according to the ESA, the scientists studying the asteroid are unsure of its key features.

Scientists have estimated that the asteroid is around 40 to 90 metres wide.

"It is very important that we improve our size estimate for 2024 YR4," the ESA said, adding, "the hazard represented by a 40 m asteroid is very different from that of a 90 m asteroid."

The James Webb Space Telescope will be used to study the astroid in March and then again in May, the ESA has revealed.

It will again be visible in 2028.