A 100-meter-wide asteroid on course for Earth in 2032 could cause catastrophic devastation, potentially wiping out Ireland. Global defense plans are underway, but experts warn of the urgent need to alter the asteroid's trajectory.
A massive asteroid, designated 2024 YR4 , is on a projected path that could bring it dangerously close to Earth in 2032. This 100-meter-wide space rock, comparable in size to the Statue of Liberty and its plinth combined, has triggered a global defense plan and moved to the top of the list for impact threats to human existence by US and European space agencies. While the probability of a direct impact is relatively low at 1.3%, the potential consequences are catastrophic.
Experts warn that if 2024 YR4 were to strike Earth, it could unleash devastation akin to a megaton explosion, dwarfing the destructive power of any nuclear weapon ever created. The impact could trigger massive earthquakes, colossal tsunamis, and widespread destruction, potentially wiping out entire countries.Astronomy Ireland's David Moore, a prominent space science expert, emphasizes the urgency of the situation. He cautions that humanity lacks the immediate technological capability to deflect the asteroid, although he proposes that a carefully executed nudge, achieved by attaching a rocket or even a direct impact to alter its trajectory, could potentially avert disaster. He stresses the importance of acting now, even with a minor course correction, to ensure a safe distance from Earth in the coming years.Current global planetary defense procedures are being activated, including the mobilization of two UN-endorsed global asteroid response groups, mirroring the fictional events depicted in the Hollywood film 'Don't Look Up.' Professor Colin Snodgrass, a planetary astronomy expert at the University of Edinburgh, acknowledges the potential threat, advocating for continued observation and monitoring of the asteroid's trajectory with powerful telescopes to refine future predictions. While the likelihood of a harmless pass remains, he stresses the need for vigilance and scientific scrutiny to ensure the safety of our planet
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Impact Threat Ireland Planetary Defense Space Agency Global Defense Astronomy Tsunamis Earthquakes
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