Space

9469 readers

178 users here now

Share & discuss informative content on: Astrophysics, Cosmology, Space Exploration, Planetary Science and Astrobiology.

Rules

Be respectful and inclusive.
No harassment, hate speech, or trolling.
Engage in constructive discussions.
Share relevant content.
Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.
Use appropriate language and tone.
Report violations.
Foster a continuous learning environment.

Picture of the Day

The Busy Center of the Lagoon Nebula

Related Communities

🔭 Science

🚀 Engineering

🌌 Art and Photography

Other Cool Links

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

237

Odds of asteroid YR4 hitting Earth just went up again, reaching new high (globalnews.ca)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

103 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The one mentioned above is 2024 YR and is slated to pay a visit in 2032. The 2028 one is 1997 XF11, and poses no risk.
(But I was confused, too - I only looked up because of the 2028/2032 discrepancy. I made a joke to my wife about emailing a state senator and suggesting they fund a mission to knock the asteroid into earth, so that they can help their constituents by ensuring that they no longer have a state to be a senator over. 2028 is during their term, and god willing, 2032 won’t be.)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

2024 YR4 has a close(ish) encounter with the Earth every 4 years; it will pass within 8 million km in 2028 before the very close pass/potential impact in 2032. You can see info for close encounters here.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Coming back to this: You mean to say we’ve got three years to execute a mission to give it a little nudge now, so we don’t have to give it a big nudge in 7 years? (Into earth’s orbit, of course.)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Yep, the plan to redirect it, if needed, would've been to hit it as it went past in 2028. (Its orbit has been refined enough by now to be nearly certain it won't hit the Earth).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Well, huh. TIL.

Serves me right for half remembering something and assuming the first search result explains it.