Report: Asteroid 2024 YR4 Poses Rising Impact Risk for 2032

FEB 10·UPDATED FEB 12

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Above: The James Webb Space Telescope. Image copyright: Alex Wong/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

This asteroid is a legitimate threat that requires immediate attention and monitoring. Scientists must seriously consider potential defensive measures, including the possibility of deflection missions similar to the successful DART test.

CBS CNN

Narrative B

Rising impact probability is a normal part of the observation process. Like previous potentially hazardous asteroids, continued monitoring will likely result in the threat being downgraded or eliminated entirely as orbital calculations become more precise.

SciTech Daily USA Today