Asteroid: Huge Rock from Sun Capable of Destroying Cities Predicted to Drop in 7 Years
- A newly discovered asteroid, 2024 YR4, has a 1-in-83 chance of striking Earth in December 2032, posing a significant threat to several regions
- The asteroid could impact areas such as northern South America, southern Asia, and Africa with a force equivalent to 8 million tons of TNT
- Geologist, Imodu Cynthia, says panic is unnecessary at this stage and that further monitoring will provide clearer answers in the years to come
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Washington, D.C., USA – A newly discovered asteroid, designated 2024 YR4, has a 1-in-83 chance of striking Earth in December 2032.
The asteroid, estimated to be 196 feet (60 meters) wide, is currently 27 million miles away.
Source: Getty Images
Experts have looked at potential impact locations, raising concerns about the possible devastating consequences.
2024 YR4 asteroid: potential impact zones identified
According to Space and Wired, David Rankin, an engineer with NASA’s Catalina Sky Survey Project, mapped out a 'risk corridor' for the asteroid's potential impact.
The corridor includes northern South America, the Pacific Ocean, southern Asia, the Arabian Sea, and Africa. Countries at risk include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador.
The asteroid's impact could cause a mid-air explosion equivalent to eight million tons of TNT, affecting a 50-kilometre radius around the site.
Astronomers studying asteroid and its trajectory
NASA has allocated an international team of astronomers to use the James Webb Space Telescope to gather more information about the asteroid's dimensions.
Astronomers believe that the asteroid, as large as the Statue of Liberty, could cause significant damage if it strikes Earth. The potential for such an event has prompted increased attention and efforts to monitor and study 2024 YR4.
Who or what is NASA?
NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is the United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and aeronautics and aerospace research.
Established in 1958, NASA has led many significant achievements, such as landing the first humans on the moon with the Apollo program, exploring the far reaches of the solar system with probes like Voyager, and conducting cutting-edge research on the International Space Station (ISS).
Geologist speaks on potential impact of Asteroid 2024 YR4
As concerns grow over the potential impact of asteroid 2024 YR4 in December 2032, field and economic geologist, Imodu Cynthia has cautioned against premature fear, stating that it is too early to determine whether the asteroid will strike Earth.
Imodu said in an interview with Legit.ng that:
“The exact and accurate location of impact for an asteroid that is speculated to impact the Earth in 2032 cannot be determined now in 2025.”
She explained that there is still a possibility that the asteroid might not collide with Earth at all, adding that:
“There are a vast number of rocks and rocky bodies that exist in space, and if by chance Asteroid 2024 YR4 collides with another rocky body in space, its trajectory can change. It can collide with as many rocky bodies as it meets on its way between now and 2032.”
She urged the public not to panic, saying:
“This is to dissolve fear in people’s minds. The best possible time to worry so much about its location of impact would be in the year 2031 and 2032, if and when space scientists confirm that its trajectory is towards Earth.”
According to Imodu:
“The geology of an area could determine the kind of damage and the extent of damage the impact of an asteroid can cause, for example, formation of craters, expulsion of harmful gases, ground shaking, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.”
She pointed out that different geological surfaces could lead to different consequences.
“For example, if it impacts a water body, it could lead to a tsunami; or a crystalline rock body, leading to the formation of a crater; or it impacts a reactive rock, leading to chemical reactions that could release harmful gases.”
Regarding structural geology, Cynthia noted that:
“Faults, especially, would most likely maximize the effect of impact of an asteroid. Active fault zones are areas where earthquakes occur; imagine an asteroid impacting an active fault zone, it would lead to movement and an earthquake.”
She also noted key geological factors that should be considered when assessing an asteroid’s impact:
“Rock composition and density, which tell us about the strength of the rock to determine wave propagation and absorption, crater formation, ground movement, and chemical reaction; presence of water bodies and ice; and faults and tectonics of the location.”
If an impact were to occur, Cynthia warned that several geological hazards could follow, including crater formation, ground shaking, tsunamis, landslides, subsidence, changes in groundwater systems, thermal radiation, and air pollution.
She emphasised that field geological observations would be crucial in emergency response efforts.
The expert however added that geological studies could help mitigate risks by:
“Identifying safe zones and weak zones, tsunami risk assessment, air quality monitoring, soil assessment and monitoring the groundwater systems.”
Top 5 things to know about space stone
Legit.ng also previously reported that scientists are monitoring a large asteroid which has a slight potential of colliding with Earth.
Scientists at NASA and The European Space Agency (ESA) are still monitoring the space object and updating the possibility of a collision.
According to available data, the risk assessment has increased from a chance of 1.2% over the last week after the observation of 2024 YR4.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a geology expert for this report.
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Source: Legit.ng
