Asteroid's Chances of Smacking Earth Increase. Here's What to Know

It's not great news, but don't panic: Astronomers spotted an asteroid that has a roughly 3.1% chance of impacting Earth on Dec. 22, 2032. Space agencies are monitoring the newly discovered asteroid and still learning more about its size and path, so don't mark your calendar for doomsday just yet. Although the odds of the asteroid hitting Earth have increased recently, that number is not set in stone. There's still a lot to learn about the space rock. Designated 2024 YR4, the asteroid was first reported by the Minor Planet Center on Dec. 27. The MPC, part of the International Astronomical Union, maintains an official catalog of near-Earth objects like asteroids and comets. It reports, names and numbers new discoveries. Multiple observatories spotted the asteroid. The European Space Agency placed 2024 YR4 at the top of its asteroid risk list. Similarly, the space rock now has the top spot on NASA's Sentry risk list. The Sentry list contains all known near-Earth asteroids with a nonzer ... Read full article.