First images of asteroid that may hit the moon provide fresh insight

James Webb Space Telescope captured these images of the asteroid 2024 YR4 using both its NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument)
James Webb Space Telescope captured these images of the asteroid 2024 YR4 using both its NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) (Nasa)
  • Asteroid 2024 YR4, initially feared to have a 3 per cent chance of hitting Earth in 2032, poses virtually no threat now, according to Nasa.
  • New images from the Webb Space Telescope reveal the asteroid is about 200 feet (60 metres) across, the size of a 15-storey building.
  • These observations mark the smallest object ever observed by the Webb telescope.
  • While the risk to Earth is negligible, there's a slight chance the asteroid could hit the moon.
  • The data collected provides valuable practice for tracking and understanding similar asteroids that might pose future threats.
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