“City-Killer” Asteroid Could Hit Earth in 8 Years – How Concerned Should We Be?

A newly discovered asteroid, nearly the size of a football field, now has a greater than one percent chance of colliding with Earth in about eight years, raising concerns about potential city-level devastation.

The asteroid, named 2024 YR4, was first detected on December 27, 2024, by the El Sauce Observatory in Chile. It is estimated to be between 130 and 300 feet (40-90 meters) wide. While scientists are not in a panic, they are closely monitoring its path. Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, emphasized the importance of paying attention and gathering as much data as possible.

NASA’s Kelly Fast, acting planetary defense officer, added that this asteroid stood out due to its lasting presence in observations. While the risk is currently low, experts are taking it seriously and continuing to track its movements.