An asteroid designated 2024 YR4 will fly past Earth on February 13, 2024, at a distance of 27 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. The asteroid, discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), operated by NASA, is estimated to be between 40 and 100 meters wide.
While the asteroid is classified as "potentially hazardous" due to its size and proximity to Earth, experts emphasize that it poses no immediate threat to our planet. The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at NASA, led by Paul Chodas, has calculated that the asteroid has a less than 1.2% chance of impacting Earth.
"It's not a threat, and it's not going to be a threat for a long time," said David Rankin, a space expert for Space.com. "The odds of it hitting Earth are very, very low, and the probability of it hitting Earth in the foreseeable future is even lower."
Despite the low probability of impact, NASA continues to monitor the asteroid's trajectory and will provide updates as needed. The agency's focus is on identifying and tracking potentially hazardous asteroids, ensuring that humanity has the necessary time and resources to prepare for any potential threats.