Researchers have disclosed the peculiar form of a sizable asteroid which could potentially collide with the moon by 2032, as per recent studies.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 generated considerable attention earlier this year when NASA assessed that it might potentially collide with our planet. However, the likelihood of such an impact has diminished since then. dropped to zero , but there's still a slight possibility that 2024 YR4 might collide with the moon in 2032. A 3.8% probability as of early April .
Recently, a group of astronomers examined the asteroid more closely utilizing the Gemini South telescope located in Chile. They discovered that 2024 YR4 probably originated from the asteroid belt situated between Mars and Jupiter and possesses an uncommonly flattened, disc-like form, akin to a hockey puck, as reported. statement released by the National Science Foundation's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab)
This discovery came as quite a surprise because most asteroids are believed to have shapes similar to potatoes or spinning tops instead of being flat discs," said the study’s lead author. Bryce Bolin , a research scientist at Eureka Scientific, a California-based organization focused on astrophysics and astronomy, stated in the announcement.
The researchers uploaded their discoveries to the preprint database. arXiv , and they will be published shortly in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Related: 'The Tip of the Iceberg': Why Risky Asteroids Like 2024 YR4 Will Continue to Plague Earth for Decades to Come
In December 2024, astronomers identified the asteroid designated as 2024 YR4, with the year included in its title due to when it was found. Then, in February, the situation developed further. likelihood of 2024 YRY Striking Earth in 2032 had an increased chance of 1 in 32, equating to 3.1%, marking this as the greatest impact likelihood NASA had documented for an asteroid of 2024 YR4’s dimensions or greater.
Nevertheless, astronomers consistently anticipated that the risk level would decrease as they gathered more information about 2024 YRY’s path. In just a few days, the probability dropped sharply to virtually nil, and it continues to be 0.00078% The possibility of this asteroid striking Earth in 2032 was still uncertain when this was written. Nonetheless, there is a concern regarding the moon; though, it’s unlikely that the asteroid would cause substantial harm to the moon should it collide with it.
In the recent study, scientists obtained images of the celestial object across various light frequencies. According to the report, the group analyzed the light curve of 2024 YRY—its fluctuating luminosity over time—to investigate the asteroid’s form, makeup, and path through orbit.
Based on the patterns reflected from the rock’s surface, scientists deduced that 2024 YR4 is probably an S-type asteroid, indicating it has high concentrations of silicate materials—such as quartz—that fall under this mineral category. Additionally, they found out that the asteroid spins quite rapidly, completing one rotation approximately every twenty minutes. They also gauged its dimensions to range between 98 to 213 feet (or equivalently, 30 to 65 meters), as reported in their research findings.
Since its discovery, researchers have been striving to precisely determine the dimensions of asteroid 2024 YR4, with this recent estimation aligning closely with earlier calculations. New information obtained recently continues to support these prior approximations. James Webb Space Telescope It was suggested that it could be somewhat bigger, ranging from 174 to 220 feet (53 to 67 meters), as Live Science had earlier reported.
In a recent statement, 2024 YR4 has been identified as one of the biggest objects in modern times, posing a possible threat to impact the moon. Previously, when concerns were growing about the possibility of 2024 YR4 colliding with Earth, it was referred to as a potential "urban annihilator" due to its size, which could be sufficiently destructive to wipe out an entire city. eradicate a large urban area .
Although improbable, a collision with the moon would offer scientists a rare chance to examine the correlation between the dimensions of an asteroid and the resulting crater size, as stated in the announcement.
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