YR4, a space rock discovered in December 2024, put scientists on alert due to the high probability of it colliding with Earth in 2032.
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During analysis, the chances increased, then decreased, and were nearly ruled out. But now, it seems researchers have found an increased chance of it colliding with the Moon.
The discovery was made possible through images of the object captured by the James Webb Space Telescope in May. Using its infrared camera to track its trajectory, researchers were able to refine their predictions.
After the analysis, the team led by researcher Andy Rivkin from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in the U.S. found that the chance of collision with the Moon rose from 3.8% to 4.3%.
The risk is still considered low, even with the increased probability. Moreover, even if a collision occurs, the Moon’s orbit should not be affected.
Pawan Kumar, an astronomer and former researcher at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru, also explained that any potential lunar debris ejected into space would not pose a threat to Earth.
Photo and video: Pixabay. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
