Former astronaut Chris Hadfield warns of a potential “city-killer” asteroid hurtling towards Earth. The massive space rock, known as Asteroid 2024 YR4, poses a significant threat to our planet’s safety. Scientists estimate a 2.3% chance of impact in 2032, raising concerns about potential catastrophic consequences for major metropolitan areas.
Asteroid 2024 YR4: A Looming Threat
Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has sounded the alarm about Asteroid 2024 YR4, which NASA fears could impact Earth. The asteroid was first detected in December 2024, approximately 27 million miles from our planet.
Hadfield compared the asteroid to “a bullet zeroing in on Earth from deep space.” This celestial body is estimated to be between 130 and 300 feet wide, with the potential to create a blast equivalent to 7.7 megatons of TNT.
Potential Devastating Impact
The impact of Asteroid 2024 YR4 would be 500 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Simulations show that such an impact could level buildings in major cities like New York.
The asteroid’s composition is likely stony, meaning it might not break up in the atmosphere. This increases the potential for catastrophic damage, as it could decimate an area the size of Washington, D.C.
Monitoring and Mitigation Efforts
NASA has ranked Asteroid 2024 YR4 high on its Sentry risk list for Near Earth Objects (NEOs). The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is scheduled to observe the asteroid in May to refine impact predictions.
“We think — because of the way it reflects light — that it’s probably a stony asteroid, a bunch of bits of other things that have slowly coalesced together,” Hadfield said during an appearance on the British radio station LBC News this week.
Despite the risks, there is a 97.7% chance the asteroid will not hit Earth. NASA’s successful DART mission demonstrated the potential to deflect asteroids using the kinetic impactor technique, providing hope for future planetary defense efforts.
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Ex-astronaut reveals chilling new details about ‘city-killer’ asteroid that may hit in 2032
