NASA’s James Webb telescope rules out Moon impact by asteroid 2024 YR4

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Scientists using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have ruled out the possibility that asteroid 2024 YR4 could collide with the Moon in 2032. New observations have helped researchers refine the space rock's trajectory and confirm that it will safely pass the lunar surface.

With the improved data, asteroid 2024 YR4 is now expected to pass the Moon at a distance of about 21,200 km on December 22, 2032.

Earlier models had suggested a 4.3 per cent chance that the object could strike the lunar surface. The refined orbit rules out that scenario.

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