The risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth seems to be creeping up as astronomers gather more data, but does that mean we should be scrambling to prepare for an impact in 2032?

The threat of Asteroid 2024 YR4 has not gone away just yet. The near-Earth object was discovered in December and calculations of its orbit showed something concerning: there was a remote possibility that it was going to hit our planet.

The measure could be taken to divert a space rock being monitored by the European Space Agency, which is expected to cross the planet's orbit in December 2032.

YR4, measuring between 130 and 300 feet, could impact Earth in 2032 with a 1.9% chance. It has garnered global attention, but experts assure minimal risk of a catastrophic impact. NASA and ESA are monitoring the situation closely.

YR4 was first discovered in December last year by a telescope in Chile. The near-Earth asteroid is as big as a football field, measuring 40 to 100 metres across.

On Wednesday, an unprecedented memo from the International Asteroid Warning Network reached the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and from there winged across the planet to government officials.

A near-Earth asteroid as wide as the Statue of Liberty is tall could strike Earth on Dec.22, 2032, alerting planetary defense groups at the United Nations.

On 27 December last year, astronomers using the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile discovered a small asteroid moving away from Earth. Follow-up observations have revealed that the asteroid, 2024 YR4, is on a path that might lead to a collision with our planet on 22 December 2032.

The odds are about 1% that the football field-sized object could hit the Earth, but that makes it the closest call in more than 20 years.

NASA has identified a newly discovered near-Earth asteroid which has sparked interest due to its potential for impact. According to NASA’s analysis, the asteroid, called 2024 YR4, has a more than one percent chance of colliding with Earth on Wednesday,