Asteroid 2024 YR4 will not impact the Moon
European Space Agency • • science
Key Points:
- Asteroid 2024 YR4, a 60-meter near-Earth object once considered the most dangerous asteroid in 20 years, has been confirmed not to pose any impact threat to the Moon.
- New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) show the asteroid will safely pass more than 20,000 km from the Moon on 22 December 2032.
- Despite initial assumptions that 2024 YR4 would not be visible until 2028, astronomers identified observation opportunities in February 2026 using precise star position data from ESA’s Gaia mission.
- This achievement highlights decades of international collaboration and advanced technology in planetary defense, demonstrating the capability to track
