On December 27th, 2024 – the Minor Planet Center had discovered the YR4 asteroid. From February 27, 2025 – it’s currently about 56 million miles away. As of now, YR4 rates a 0 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale (which ranges from 0 (no chance of impact) to 10 (a collision is certain)). The asteroid had recently reached 3 on the scale – but due to more observations by the Planetary Society it has been reduced to 0.
Previously the asteroid had percentages ranging from 0.004% – 3.1% (being the highest percentage) with contact with Earth, and a full 1% for contact with the Moon.
The last time an asteroid hit earth was the Chelyabinsk meteor on February 15, 2013. The meteor was estimated to be about 20m in diameter with an airburst of around 500 kilotons. Its impact would have the same effects as an explosion 30 times the size of the Hiroshima bomb. The meteor caused destruction in the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia, near the border of Kazakhstan.
Now who knows what the future would hold?
