The chances of the earth getting pounded by an asteroid in 2032 are slim, but they're certainly not zero, and that number is increasing as time goes on. It might be time to put a call to Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and Aerosmith.
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Previously, the odds of Earth getting hit by the city destroying 2024 YR4 asteroid were 1/42. That's a 2.3% chance for those who can't do fractions. However, now, the odds are being raised to 1/32, or 3.1%. This isn't huge, but it's not zero.
The asteroid being observed by scientists around the world is about 54 meters wide. This isn't big enough to wipe out humanity but would comfortably destroy any city on Earth. If it happened to land in a highly populated area, the damage would be catastrophic.
The impact of an asteroid this size would be the equivalent of 8 megatons. That is still almost six times smaller than the Tsar Bomba developed by the Russians (We already have the ability to obliterate humanity in ways a measly asteroid could only dream of). But it's still enough to wreck devastation if it was to hit.
Scientists Watch The Asteroid With Baited Breath
Of course, there is a much higher probability that the asteroid will miss the Earth completely. Most likely, it will fly by harmlessly, maybe only giving us a pretty light show. But, scientists are still watching it carefully nonetheless.
The 'Risk Corridor' as it is being called, is expected to be the Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and South Asia. This is where the scientists predict the asteroid will hit Earth if it did impact the planet.
Over 50 observatories have been taking notes on the asteroid as it traces its path across the heavens. But, for now, there isn't too much they can tell us. Really, there won't be much they can predict beyond what we already know until 2028.
At this point, the asteroid will make another approach to Earth, and the real risk can be determined. Either way, we have another seven years until the highly unlikely impact. That's plenty of time to say goodbye to loved ones and dig a hole in the ground to shield from the destruction.
