“A Giant Rock May Strike Earth”

By next March, space astronomers will get a clearer look at a massive space rock heading towards our planet. It has been named 2024 YR4. This asteroid may impact Earth in 2032 and was discovered back in December by a dedicated team of scientists. The chance that this giant rock will strike Earth is a bit greater than the risk of losing a coin toss. There are many unanswered questions about this giant stone. Its size is uncertain, ranging from that of a small apartment building to half of a soccer stadium. Currently, it's believed that if it hit, it would do the same damage as the Tunguska impactor back in 1904, which flattened trees. This object is about 180 feet across and is being monitored now. Telescopes on the ground can't see clearly because of Earth’s atmosphere.

Next year, the James Webb Space telescope will have a clearer view since it’s not bound by our planet's atmosphere. Then, in May, final measurements will be recorded from the asteroid. The James Webb Space telescope can see heat generated from the object. There are claims that 2024 YR4 could hit Earth with more power than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Imagine a space rock impacting our home! This massive space rock has a 1-in-11 chance of crashing into Earth. This will be more powerful than a thousand atomic bombs in Japan. NASA has come up with a plan to get more accurate details about the asteroid. They want to know if its size is closer to a 40-meter or a 90-meter wide boulder. It could be as small as a single family home but It could be larger in size, too.

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