Building-sized asteroid has a small chance of hitting Earth in 2032

An asteroid up to 100 metres wide has a 1-in-83 chance of impacting Earth on 22 December 2032. That risk of impact is enough to have triggered global planetary defence response procedures for the first time.

“This is a historic moment,” says Richard Moissl at the European Space Agency (ESA).

The asteroid, dubbed 2024 YR4, was first detected on 27 December 2024 by an automated telescope in Chile that scans for asteroids. It is now at the top of ESA and…