Space scientists reveal if ‘city killer’ asteroid will smash into the moon

By Dean Murray

A "city killer" asteroid will not smash into the moon in 2032, say space scientists.

Space rock 2024 YR4 was originally feared to be heading for Earth, but further observations suggested it would strike the lunar surface on Dec. 22, 2032.

However, the latest data now indicates the asteroid is expected to narrowly miss the Moon at a distance of 13,200 miles (21,200 km).

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Using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observations collected on February 18 and 26, experts from NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California have refined near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4’s orbit and are ruling out a chance of lunar impact.

NASA said Thursday (Mar 5): "This update reflects improved precision in our understanding of where the asteroid is expected to be in 2032 rather than a shift in its orbital path. Previous analyses, made before the incorporation of these new observations, suggested 2024 YR4 had a 4.3% chance of lunar impact on this date."

The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope successfully observed the extremely faint near-Earth asteroid on 26 February with its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam).

ESA said: "By analysing the asteroid’s position relative to background stars whose locations are very well known, astronomers were able to rule out any chance that the asteroid could impact Earth’s Moon on 22 December 2032."