Astronomers discover 196-foot asteroid with 1-in-83 chance of hitting Earth in 2032 – Space

The near-Earth object (NEO) discovered in 2024, which is around half as wide as a football field is long, will make a very close approach to Earth on Dec. 22, 2032. It’s estimated to come within around 66,000 miles (106,200 kilometers) of Earth on that day, according to NASA’s Center of NEO Studies (CNEOS). However, when orbital uncertainties are considered, that close approach could turn out to be a direct hit on our planet.” […]

Size and composition are big players in possible damage, along with impact location,” Rankin said. “It’s hard to constrain size and composition with the current orbital situation, as it’s outbound. Typically, the best way to constrain size is with radar observations and those are not possible right now.” He says that astronomers will have a shot at estimating these characteristics in 2028 when 2024 YR4 will make a less risky close approach to Earth, passing within around 5 million miles (8 million kilometers) of our planet.