Astronomers Propose Blowing Up a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid
Asteroid 2024 YR4, about 50–70 meters wide, briefly showed a 3% chance of hitting Earth in 2032 before new data ruled that out. The object still has a 4% chance of striking the Moon on December 22, 2032, which could send tens of millions of kilograms of debris toward Earth orbit, threatening satellites. NASA is studying deflection and nuclear disruption options, though experts caution against using nuclear devices in space.