Odds of asteroid YR4 2024 hitting Earth in 2032 go up, then down ...
The asteroid 2024 YR4 has a very small chance of striking Earth when its orbit briefly intersects our planet's in December 2032.
Read more at CBS News
Odds of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth drop from record high ...
NASA announced Wednesday that the odds of the up to 300-foot-wide asteroid hitting Earth dropped from record highs. See where they stand.
Read more at USA TODAY
NASA asteroid hitting Earth - 10 things to know with detail
The likelihood of a large asteroid hitting Earth is extremely low. NASA closely monitors all near-Earth objects and has identified the vast majority of potentially hazardous asteroids.
NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office is responsible for tracking and assessing the risk of asteroid impacts. They work with international partners to develop strategies for mitigating the threat of a potential impact.
In the event that an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, NASA has several options for deflecting it. These include using a spacecraft to nudge the asteroid off course, or detonating a nuclear device near the asteroid to change its trajectory.
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission is designed to test the effectiveness of using a spacecraft to deflect an asteroid. The mission is scheduled to launch in November 2021 and will target a small moon of the asteroid Didymos.
NASA also conducts regular simulations and exercises to practice responding to a potential asteroid impact. These exercises involve government agencies, international partners, and the scientific community.
NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program is constantly monitoring the skies for new asteroids and comets that could potentially pose a threat to Earth. The program uses ground-based telescopes as well as space-based observatories to track these objects.
The chances of a large asteroid hitting Earth in the near future are extremely low. NASA estimates that the likelihood of a civilization-ending impact in the next 100 years is less than 0.1%.
Small asteroids do occasionally enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up, creating bright meteors known as fireballs. These events are relatively common and pose no threat to human civilization.
NASA is working on developing new technologies for detecting and tracking near-Earth objects. These include ground-based telescopes, space-based observatories, and new detection algorithms.
While the risk of a large asteroid impact is low, NASA takes the threat seriously and is actively working to develop strategies for mitigating the risk. By monitoring and tracking near-Earth objects, NASA is helping to ensure the safety and security of our planet.