Scientists gave the all-clear to Earth. A newly discovered asteroid will NOT crash into the planet.

People spotted asteroid 2024 YR4 in December. At that time, scientists thought that there was a very small chance that it could hit Earth. That would happen in 2032. They said the risk of a strike was about three chances out of 100. That’s three percent. 

Scientists have been studying the asteroid for two months. They have more information now. They updated their theory. (That’s part of the scientific method. Read about this process in How Science Works.) 

On Tuesday, NASA and the European Space Agency said they have almost fully ruled out any threat to Earth. Scientists believe the risk of a strike is almost zero.

“That’s the outcome we expected all along, although we couldn’t be 100 percent sure that it would happen,” says Paul Chodas. He works for NASA.

There’s still a small chance that the asteroid could hit the Moon on December 22, 2032. But Mr. Chodas expects the odds of a Moon strike will also fade.

The world’s telescopes keep tracking the asteroid. Currently, it is headed away from Earth. The Webb Space Telescope will zoom in next month. That telescope will be able to pinpoint the asteroid’s size. Scientists think it is between 130 feet and 300 feet across.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 travels our way every four years. It will vanish from view in another month or two.

Even if another asteroid is spotted nearby, Christians know that God is in control. He set the stars and Moon in their places, and He cares for us. (Psalm 8:3-4) We can trust that His plans are good.

Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. — Psalm 115:3