NASA Raises Collision Odds for Asteroid 2024 YR4 to 2.3%

NASA has raised the probability of the asteroid 2024 YR4 colliding with Earth to 2.3 percent, up from previous estimates of around 1.2 percent. Dubbed the 'city killer' due to its potential destructive power, an impact could result in an explosion 500 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, with a blast radius exceeding 30 miles. While the odds of impact have increased, experts believe there is still a 97.7 percent chance it will miss Earth when it approaches in December 2032. This asteroid poses the highest risk among known near-Earth objects, but advancements in space technology, such as NASA's successful DART mission, offer hope that humanity could deflect it if necessary. The asteroid's exact trajectory remains uncertain, and ongoing observations will be crucial to refine risk assessments. As of now, the asteroid is on a close approach trajectory, igniting discussions about planetary defense strategies.