![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/NASA-Declares-Emergency-to-Monitor-Asteroid-Threatening-Earth.webp\")
NASA has activated an emergency response to closely monitor asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a 2.3% chance of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032.<\/p>\n
This announcement was made by Majed Abu Zahra, President of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, amid the ongoing full moon observation period in Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world.<\/p>\n
The asteroid, estimated to be between 40 to 90 meters in diameter, is under intense observation using the James Webb Space Telescope, renowned for its infrared capabilities that allow precise measurement of the asteroid\u2019s size, composition, and trajectory.<\/p>\n
NASA has scheduled further observations in March and May 2025 to refine its orbital path and reassess the collision probability. The agency is also coordinating with global space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA), to share data and develop potential mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n If necessary, NASA has three primary strategies to deflect the asteroid and prevent a possible impact:<\/p>\n Kinetic Impact \u2013 Deploying a spacecraft to crash into the asteroid and alter its trajectory.<\/p>\n Nuclear Deflection \u2013 Using a nuclear explosion near the asteroid to shift its path (considered a last resort due to potential risks).<\/p>\n Gravity Tractor \u2013 Placing a spacecraft near the asteroid to gradually alter its course through gravitational influence.<\/p>\n Although NASA estimates that the asteroid has a 97.7% chance of missing Earth, the 2.3% impact probability remains unusually high for Near-Earth Objects (NEOs).<\/p>\n This uncertainty has prompted NASA to prioritize monitoring and readiness, utilizing advanced instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope, typically reserved for exceptional cases.<\/p>\n While the likelihood of impact remains low, NASA and international space agencies are not taking any risks, ensuring that Earth is well-prepared to respond to any potential asteroid threat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NASA has activated an emergency response to closely monitor asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a 2.3% chance of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032. This announcement was made by Majed Abu Zahra, President of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, amid the ongoing full moon observation period in Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world. NASA\u2019s Surveillance of Asteroid 2024 YR4 The asteroid, estimated to be between 40 to 90 meters in diameter, is under intense observation using the James Webb Space Telescope, renowned for its infrared capabilities that allow precise measurement of the asteroid\u2019s size, composition, and trajectory. NASA has<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44093,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"NASA","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"NASA issues an emergency alert to monitor a potentially hazardous asteroid approaching Earth, assessing possible threats and impact risks.","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11194],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"yoast_head":"\nNASA\u2019s Plan to Counter the Asteroid Threat<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Should We Be Concerned?<\/h2>\n