Asteroid 2024 YR4 Could Impact Moon, Resembles Hockey Puck

Astronomers have created a 3D representation of asteroid 2024 YR4, discovered in December 2023, which is shaped like a hockey puck and measures approximately 60 meters wide. Initially considered a potential threat to Earth, the asteroid's risk of impacting our planet has dropped to virtually zero, while there is now a 3.8% chance it could hit the Moon in 2032. The asteroid, primarily composed of silicates, likely originated from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and rotates rapidly, completing a turn every 20 minutes. The research from the Gemini South Observatory in Chile highlights unexpected properties of the asteroid, particularly its flat, disk-like shape, which differs from the typical potato-like forms of most asteroids. Should the asteroid collide with the Moon, it would provide scientists with a chance to study the relationship between asteroid size and the resulting impact crater. This ongoing research is considered valuable practice for future asteroid threats to Earth.