NASA Increases Odds of Asteroid 2024 YR Hitting Earth in 2032

The chances of asteroid 2024 YR colliding with Earth in 2032 have slightly increased, according to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. The football-field-sized asteroid now has a 2.3% chance (1 in 43) of impact, up from the European Space Agency’s previous estimate of 1.3%, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency

While significantly smaller than the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, 2024 YR could still cause massive destruction. If it were to explode in Earth’s atmosphere, the energy released would be equivalent to eight megatons of TNT—over 500 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb.

Asteroid impacts have shaped Earth’s history, with scientists suggesting they may have influenced human evolution. Experts continue to monitor 2024 YR’s trajectory as it prepares for its closest approach on December 22, 2032.