NASA Investigates Asteroid Impact Risk

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Tunguska asteroid

MailOnline

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Science

NASA makes 'emergency' decision over 'city-killing' asteroid

Summary

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83% Informative

Asteroid 2024 YR4 currently has a one -in-43 ( 2.3 per cent ) chance of hitting Earth in 2032 .

Astronomers will use the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to measure the exact size of the asteroid.

Best estimates currently suggest that the asteroid is up to 90 metres ( 300 ft ) wide.

That would make it around the same size as New York's Statue of Liberty or London 's Big Ben.

Scientists currently predict that the probability of 2024 YR4 hitting Earth should collapse towards zero as more data is collected. Overall, ESA 's team of scientists will use no more than four hours of the JWST 's tightly controlled schedule. This time has been taken from the 'director's discretionary time’, a special budget of hours reserved for time-sensitive operations that cannot wait for the normal proposal process. ESA adds that any data gathered about 2024 YR4 will be made publicly available..