NASA Confirms Asteroid 2024 YR4 Will Safely Pass Moon in 2032

NASA has confirmed that asteroid 2024 YR4 will not collide with the Moon on December 22, 2032.

Discovered in late 2024 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile, 2024 YR4 is approximately 60 meters in diameter. Initial assessments indicated a 4.3% chance of a lunar impact in 2032.

To refine the asteroid's trajectory, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to observe 2024 YR4 on February 18 and 26, 2026. These observations allowed scientists to determine that the asteroid will pass safely by the Moon at a distance of approximately 13,200 miles (21,200 kilometers).

This update reflects improved precision in understanding the asteroid's expected position in 2032, rather than a change in its orbital path.

Previously, in early 2025, data suggested a potential threat to Earth. However, subsequent analyses ruled out any significant impact risk to our planet for at least the next century.

Astronomers note that such shifts in probability are standard in planetary defense. Initial calculations often result in a range of possible outcomes, which are refined as more data becomes available.

With the latest findings, 2024 YR4 is no longer considered a threat to either Earth or the Moon.