NASA Makes Emergency Call as Odds of Asteroid Striking Earth Increase

Could humanity’s greatest telescope prevent a potential Armageddon? NASA is using the James Webb Space Telescope to examine a “city-killing” asteroid, 2024 YR4, that might be on a collision course with Earth.

The asteroid, which was discovered in December, now has a 1-in-43 chance of impacting our planet in 2032, an increase from its original 1% risk, according to The Independent. It’s now one of NASA’s top concerns when it comes to space hazards.

In an effort to understand the asteroid better, NASA is enlisting the James Webb Telescope to get a clearer picture of its size and the damage it could cause if it strikes Earth. As the European Space Agency (ESA) notes, “It’s crucial that we refine our size estimate for 2024 YR4 — the risk posed by a 40-meter asteroid is far different from that of a 90-meter asteroid.”

Currently, astronomers believe the asteroid is about 180 feet wide — roughly the same height as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If it did hit, the impact would likely cause damage similar to the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia, which flattened millions of trees. However, scientists are working with limited data from ground-based telescopes, which only measure the sunlight reflected off the asteroid. This means its true size could be much larger.

That’s where the James Webb comes in. Using infrared technology, the telescope can detect heat emitted by the asteroid, providing more accurate size estimates. Since Webb operates outside Earth’s atmosphere, it can also get a much clearer view than ground-based telescopes, which are hindered by our planet’s atmospheric interference.

The first round of observations is scheduled for March when 2024 YR4 will be at its brightest. Additional observations will occur in May, after which the asteroid won’t return for further study until 2028.

The data gathered by the James Webb will help NASA, ESA, and other space agencies better understand the asteroid’s threat and plan any necessary response. Even with current size estimates, experts warn that a collision would release the energy equivalent of 15 megatons of TNT — about 100 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.