• Asteroid 2024 YR4 has a 1.2% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032.
• NASA and ESA are closely monitoring the asteroid's trajectory and size.
• If it were to collide, damage could extend over 50 kilometers from impact.
• Historical data suggests impact probabilities often decrease with further observations.

Space agencies, including NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), are monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4, which has been designated as a near-Earth object with an estimated 1.2% chance of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032. According to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies director, Paul Chodas, there is a 99% probability that the asteroid will miss, yet he emphasized the necessity of vigilance in tracking this celestial body. The asteroid, measuring between 40 and 100 meters wide, could generate significant blast damage if it were to strike, potentially affecting areas within a 50-kilometer radius of the impact site.

2024 YR4 was first identified in December 2022 by a telescope located in Chile, and it made its closest approach to Earth on Christmas Day, passing within approximately 800,000 kilometers, or about twice the distance of the Moon. As the asteroid will fade from view in the coming months, astronomers are utilizing advanced telescopes to gather further data on its trajectory before it disappears until its next close approach in 2028.

The asteroid is currently rated at level 3 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, indicating that while it merits public awareness and scrutiny, the risk remains low. The HuffPost reports that historical instances reveal such minor probabilities often diminish as additional observations are made, highlighting a similar situation with asteroid Apophis in 2004. Furthermore, proactive measures have been initiated by global response teams: the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG), both of which are coordinating resolutions for potential mitigation.

If the asteroid continues to qualify above the 1% threat threshold, further assessments for defensive strategies may follow, including the consideration of deflection methods as showcased by NASA's successful DART mission.

For continuous updates on asteroid 2024 YR4, stay tuned to resources from both NASA and the ESA as they monitor this situation closely. You can read more about this developing story from India Times and BBC.