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Asteroid 2024 YR4 Set to Pass Moon Safely After New Observations

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Asteroid 2024 YR4, initially thought to pose a risk to Earth and later to the moon, has been confirmed to safely pass by the lunar surface. Discovered in December 2024, it was assessed to have a 4.3% chance of impacting the moon, which could have endangered astronauts and satellites. However, recent observations using the James Webb Space Telescope on February 18 and 26, 2028, revealed that YR4 will instead pass at a distance of 14,229 miles. This significant finding not only alleviates immediate concerns but also showcases the Webb telescope's capabilities in planetary defense, as researchers developed new techniques for tracking such faint objects in space.

Key Details: • Asteroid 2024 YR4 will pass the moon at a distance of 14,229 miles. • The asteroid was initially discovered in December 2024 and posed a 4.3% impact risk to the moon. • Observations were made using the James Webb Space Telescope on February 18 and 26, 2028. • New techniques developed for observing faint asteroids could aid future planetary defense efforts.

space planetary-defense asteroid james-webb lunar-impact

People & Organizations

NASAEuropean Space AgencyJohns Hopkins UniversityMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyDr. Andy RivkinJulien de WitDr. Artem Burdanov

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