Asteroid 2024 YR4 could obliterate the Moon

An asteroid that was once feared to strike Earth in the coming years may now be on a collision course with the Moon, according to new NASA observations.

The space rock, named 2024 YR4, had only a 3.1% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. However, recent data suggests that while Earth is no longer at risk, the Moon could now be in danger.

"While an Earth impact by 2024 YR4 on December 22, 2032, has now been ruled out, it continues to have a non-zero probability of impacting the Moon at this time," an international team of astronomers wrote in a memo.

Further observations are planned for May to better determine the asteroid’s orbital path and thermal properties.

Over the past few decades, numerous asteroids have narrowly missed Earth.

(QG - Source: The Daily Star - Picture : © Unsplash)