NASA’s recent announcement brought relief to millions of people across the globe: Earth is no longer in danger of being struck by asteroid 2024 YR4. This massive space rock, which once posed a serious threat, will safely pass by Earth in 2032.

However, the situation is still far from settled. Though Earth has dodged a bullet, NASA warns that the Moon could still be in the asteroid’s sights.

A Close Call for Earth

For weeks, astronomers had been closely monitoring the path of asteroid 2024 YR4, a massive object up to 295 feet in diameter. The initial calculations raised alarm as experts determined that Earth had a 1.5% chance of being impacted by the asteroid.

The implications of such an event would have been catastrophic. If it had collided with Earth, the explosion would have been equivalent to 8 megatons of TNT—500 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.

Entire cities would have been destroyed, and the world would have faced a long-lasting environmental impact. After extensive observations and recalculations, NASA has confirmed that asteroid YR4 will not strike Earth.

The current trajectory suggests that the asteroid will pass by our planet with no impact for at least the next century.

“That’s the outcome we expected all along,” said Paul Chodas, director of NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies.

The Moon’s New Risk

While Earth is safe, NASA’s latest data suggests a new and growing threat—the Moon could be on a collision course with asteroid YR4. The asteroid now has a 1.7% chance of striking the celestial body, up from previous estimates.

The potential impact on the Moon could be catastrophic. If asteroid YR4 hits, it would strike at a staggering 30,000 miles per hour, creating a crater up to 6,500 feet wide. Such a collision would leave a permanent mark on the lunar surface, visible from Earth with the naked eye.

Scientists are closely monitoring the situation, hoping that further data and observations will decrease the likelihood of such an impact.

One of the most valuable tools in this effort is the James Webb Space Telescope, which will soon be used to get a more accurate read on the asteroid’s size and trajectory.

Studying Asteroids for the Future

Although the asteroid’s threat to Earth has been eliminated for now, the potential danger to the Moon serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of our celestial neighbors.

This event has also provided a unique opportunity for astronomers to study asteroid trajectories in real-time, helping to refine the techniques used to track and predict future asteroid paths.

Now, the astronomers continue to observe 2024 YR4, they hope that this close encounter will lead to a deeper understanding of cosmic threats and better preparation for potential future hazards.

Earth’s Close Call Highlights Space Vulnerabilities

In the grand scheme of things, Earth has come away unscathed this time, but it’s clear that our place in the cosmos is far from secure. The Moon’s close call with asteroid YR4 is a vivid reminder of how fragile our surroundings are in the vastness of space.

The scientists continue to refine their predictions and observe the asteroid, it remains to be seen whether the Moon will indeed be hit, or if humanity can rest easy knowing that our celestial companion has once again avoided disaster.