Rises theAttention international towards theasteroid 2024 YR4, which could hit the Earth on 22 December 2032 with one chance estimated equal to 1.2%: the theme will be addressed next week a Vienna in the meeting already expected of the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group ofUNto evaluate the possible actions to be undertaken to mitigate any risk. It gives it knownEuropean Space AgencyThat presides The group and that in these hours is monitor carefully theasteroid with his Planetary defense office.
Currently the cosmic stonegreat among the 40 and 100 metersit is moving away from the Earth almost in linemaking it difficult determine precision his orbit. In the next months we will start a lose sight of it from the Earth: for this theEsa will coordinate the observations with telescopes more and more powerfulwhich will culminate in the use of Very Large Telescope ofEuropean Southern Observatory in ChileFor gather as many more data possible. “It is possible that theasteroid 2024 YR4 disappearance from the view Before you can exclude completely any possibility Of impact In the 2032. In this case – explains theEsa – theasteroid will probably remain in the List of risks until it returns observable In the 2028».
For the moment 2024 YR4 is classified al level 3 on the Torino impact risk scale: his is “a close encounter that deserves theAttention of the astronomers and of the public», Underlines theEsa.
If the chance Of impact will remain above the theshold of 1%, lo Space Mission Planning Advisory Group will provide recommendations atUN and will begin to evaluate «The different options for one answer al potential danger based on space vehicles», Specifies theEsa.
THE’European Space Agency it is also member ofInternational Asteroid Warning Networkanother Task Force ofUN chaired from the Nasa. If necessarythis too organization (deputy al tracing and to the characterization of the asteroids) could be take action For develop a strategy For assist the world governments in the’analyses from the consequences ofimpact ofasteroid and in the planning of any answers Of mitigation.