A NASA engineer has shared a ‘risk corridor’ that presents the countries that could be affected if the 2024 YR4 asteroid were to strike the earth in 2032. NASA has confirmed the possibility of an asteroid colliding with Earth in just seven years. The odds of the asteroid, 2024 YR4, hitting the earth are 1 in 43, amounting to a 2.3% chance. Although currently moving away from our planet, 2024 YR4 passed by Earth at a distance of 828,800 kilometers on Christmas Day in 2024. However, it is anticipated to return, coming uncomfortably close in December of 2032. The asteroid, measuring between 40 to 100 meters wide, has been given the moniker ‘the city destroyer’ due to its potential for significant damage.
NASA engineer, David Rankin, who works with NASA’s Catalina Sky Survey Project, is among the experts who have detailed a ‘risk corridor’ identifying the countries that might be affected should the asteroid make impact in seven years. Despite this alarming possibility, NASA has clarified that they are closely monitoring 2024 YR4 as an object of interest, assuring the public that there is no imminent cause for alarm. Even if a collision were to occur, NASA reassures that the resultant damage would be ‘localised’, avoiding a catastrophic extinction scenario akin to that of the dinosaurs.
Based on Wired’s report, experts have analysed the asteroid’s projected trajectory and outlined potential areas of impact. If the asteroid were on a collision course with Earth, it is estimated that 2024 YR4 could strike within a band of land extending from northern South America across the Pacific Ocean to southern Asia, the Arabian Sea, and Africa. Countries within this corridor, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador, could potentially face the threat posed by the asteroid’s impact.
Ongoing observations of the asteroid’s orbit are crucial for enhancing our understanding of the ‘impact probability’ associated with 2024 YR4. While there remains a possibility that the asteroid might be ruled out as an impact threat, similar to previous cases catalogued by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the agency advises exercising caution as the impact probability could increase over time. Should the asteroid collide with Earth in 2032, it is projected to strike the planet at a high velocity of approximately 17 kilometers per second, equivalent to around 38,000 miles per hour.
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In conclusion, the potential threat posed by the 2024 YR4 asteroid has prompted NASA to take preventative measures and conduct thorough observations to mitigate the risk of a collision with Earth. With a focused strategy in place, experts are actively monitoring the asteroid’s trajectory and impact probability to ensure the safety and security of countries that fall within the projected ‘risk corridor’. Despite the delicate nature of the situation, NASA’s ongoing efforts seek to provide timely interventions and invaluable insights to safeguard against any potential catastrophic consequences in the future.