Asteroid 2024 YR4 will not impact the Moon
<img src="https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2026/03/james_webb_space_telescope_spots_faint_asteroid_2024_yr4_-_18_february_2026/27141757-1-eng-GB/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_spots_faint_asteroid_2024_YR4_-_18_February_2026_card_full.png" alt="James Webb Space Telescope spots faint asteroid 2024 YR4 - 18 February 2026"> <p>Last year, an approximately 60 metre near-Earth object captured global attention. For a brief period, <a href="/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/ESA_actively_monitoring_near-Earth_asteroid_2024_YR4" target="_blank">asteroid 2024 YR4</a> became the most dangerous asteroid discovered in the last 20 years. While an Earth impact was soon ruled out, the asteroid faded from view with a lingering 4% chance of striking the Moon on 22 December 2032.</p><p>Now, that risk has been eliminated. Astronomers have confirmed that 2024 YR4 will not impact the Moon using new observations made by the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Webb_s_instruments" target="_top">Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam)</a> on the NASA/ESA/CSA <a href="/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb" target="_blank">James Webb Space Telescope</a>. Instead, it will safely pass the Moon at a distance of more than 20 000 km.</p>
- Published
- Mar 5, 2026, 3:50 PM
- Source
- ESA Space News