The asteroid that once had a small chance of striking Earth and now might slam into the moon resembles a spinning hockey puck, scientists said this week. A team of astronomers used the Gemini South Observatory in Chile to observe asteroid 2024 YR4 in multiple wavelengths as it zoomed away from Earth in February, barely six weeks after its discovery. They created a 3D image of it based on their findings, reports the AP. The nearly 200-foot asteroid looks more like a flat disk—or not-quite-round hockey puck—than a potato. It also has a rapid rotation rate of about once every 20 minutes.
"This find was rather unexpected since most asteroids are thought to be shaped like potatoes or toy tops rather than flat disks," said research team lead Bryce Bolin from Eureka Scientific. Scientists said it most likely originated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and is rich in silicates. At one point earlier this year, NASA and the European Space Agency put the odds of the asteroid striking Earth in 2032 at 3%. It's now down to virtually zero for the next century, but there's a 3.8% chance it could strike the moon instead. Even if that happens, NASA assures the moon's orbit will not be altered.
The asteroid—which swings our way every four years—will be too far away by next week for ground telescopes to see. The Webb Space Telescope will take another look later this month or next. Scientists consider all this good practice for when a potentially killer asteroid heads our way. (More 2024 YR4 stories.)
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