NASA Confirms Asteroid 2024 YR4 Will Safely Pass Moon in 2032
NASA has confirmed that asteroid 2024 YR4 will not collide with the Moon in 2032, passing safely at a distance of approximately 13,200 miles.
NASA has confirmed that asteroid 2024 YR4 will not collide with the Moon on December 22, 2032.
Initial calculations had indicated a 4.3% chance of a lunar impact. However, recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope in February 2026 have refined the asteroid's trajectory, confirming it will pass safely at a distance of approximately 13,200 miles (21,200 kilometers) from the Moon's surface.
Discovered in late 2024 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Chile, 2024 YR4 is estimated to be about 200 feet (60 meters) in diameter.
While initial assessments raised concerns about potential impacts with Earth and the Moon, subsequent analyses have ruled out any significant threat to both celestial bodies.
The James Webb Space Telescope's recent observations have been instrumental in providing a more accurate understanding of the asteroid's path, ensuring that both Earth and its satellite remain safe from this near-Earth object.