All Clear: Asteroid 2024 YR4 Will Miss the Moon

Kurznachricht · 31.07.2026

Asteroid 2024 YR4 will not hit the Moon. New observations with the James Webb Space Telescope in early 2026 all but ruled out a feared impact on 22 December 2032; the rock will pass about 21,000 kilometres from the Moon. In 2024 it was briefly the most closely watched asteroid of all, because of a small chance of hitting Earth – which was long since ruled out too.

In context: The case is seen as a success for international planetary defence.

Sources: NASA, ESA. Symbolic image (Moon).