New scientific observations ruled out the possibility of a direct impact of asteroid 2024 YR4 to Planet Earth, according to the Caribbean Astronomy Society (SAC) on Monday.
According to that organism, the celest body, which managed to have an impact probability to our planet of 3.1%the highest recorded in history since the asteroids are monitored, went down Monday at level 0 on the Torino scale.
“The asteroid trajectory suggests that it will be passing in December 2032 at a totally safe distance, to 162,428 miles from the Earth, or 68% of the earth-lun”The SAC said in a press release.
The new data reveal that the probability of impact has been reduced to only 0.0039%, which implies that there is 99,9961% that the space rock does not impact the earth.
The Torino scale is a table in which the possible risk of asteroid impact is classified, and in which the zero level means that there is no risk.
For its part, NASA confirmed that Asteroid YR4 maintains a 1.7% probability of impacting the moon on December 22, 2032.
“Although this asteroid no longer represents a significant threat of impact for the Earth, 2024 YR4 provided an invaluable opportunity for NASA experts and their partner institutions to evaluate the science of planetary defense and the notification process.”NASA said.
From its detection in the vicinity of the Earth, in December 2024, The scientific community closely follows the tour of 2024 YR4an asteroid between 40 and 100 meters that generated alert among scholars of the subject.
Concern increased when It was classified with number 3 on the Turin scalea system that measures the probability of impact and the possible damage that an object close to the Earth could cause. At the highest end, a 10 indicates a safe collision with catastrophic consequences. However, most asteroids who approach the earth are usually classified with a 2 or less, so The situation of 2024 YR4 at that time generated a special interest.