Washington: NASA scientists are closely monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4, a space rock discovered in late 2024 that initially raised concerns of a potential Earth impact in 2032. Updated calculations now suggest the asteroid poses no major threat to Earth, but there remains a small chance it could collide with the Moon in December 2032.

If the asteroid were to strike the lunar surface, scientists warn it could generate significant debris, creating risks for satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts due to increased micrometeoroid activity.

Researchers are currently exploring several strategies to prevent such an outcome. The first option is deflection, where a spacecraft would attempt to alter the asteroid’s trajectory through a kinetic impact. This method, proven in NASA’s 2022 DART mission, carries uncertainties since the asteroid’s size, mass, and internal composition are not fully understood.

As a backup, some studies propose using nuclear devices to disrupt or destroy the asteroid before it reaches a collision course. Plans under discussion suggest that detonations between 2029 and 2031 could prevent a potential impact. However, no official mission has been approved, and such an approach would involve major international and legal considerations.

For now, 2024 YR4 remains under continuous observation as astronomers refine its orbit and impact probabilities. Planetary defense experts emphasize that more data in the coming years will determine whether active intervention becomes necessary.