In a dramatic reversal from last week’s concerns, NASA now reports that asteroid 2024 YR4 has nearly zero chance of striking Earth in 2032, though our moon might not be so fortunate. This development follows several weeks of escalating risk assessments that had raised global concern. Here’s what you need to know about this evolving situation:

The dramatic shift

NASA’s latest data shows a complete reversal in trajectory assessment:

The lunar possibility

Scientists are now tracking a different potential collision:

The asteroid profile

Key characteristics of 2024 YR4 remain under study:

Historical context

Scientists compare the situation to previous events:

Scientific explanation

Experts attribute the changing risk assessment to:

Public response

The changing assessment has generated varied reactions:

What happens next

The monitoring effort continues with new focus:

The rapid evolution of the 2024 YR4 risk assessment demonstrates both the challenges and capabilities of modern asteroid tracking technology. While the Earth appears to be completely safe from this particular space rock, scientists will continue to monitor its trajectory with particular attention to its potential lunar encounter in 2032.

Read more:

• Asteroid 2024 YR4 has ’nearly zero’ shot of hitting Earth, but could hit moon, NASA says

• Chance rises of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2032

This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com

The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.