Shock discovery: Scientists warn that city-destroying asteroid nearing Earth in 2032 is more massive than first estimated

Although safe for Earth, the Moon still poses a small impact threat.

How big is the 'city-destroying' asteroid, and why does it matter?

Scientists found that the asteroid, known as 2024 YR4, is even larger than previously believed using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Space agencies first calculated that 2024 YR4 would have a diameter of about 40 meters (131 feet) based on observations made from the ground. The space rock is actually 60 meters (200 feet) in diameter, which is roughly the height of a 15-story building, according to recent direct measurements, as quoted in a report by the Daily Mail.

A blast 500 times more potent than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima would be released if an asteroid of this size struck Earth.

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What does the James Webb Space Telescope reveal?

Following its discovery in December of last year, the likelihood of an impact skyrocketed to a startling 3.1%, the highest odds ever noted for a large asteroid.

Although NASA has thankfully ruled out the possibility of 2024 YR4 striking Earth, the moon is still at risk, according to JWST observations, as per a report by the Daily Mail.

Could the Moon actually get hit?

The likelihood of this building-sized space rock colliding with the moon is 2%, according to researchers.
The world's space agencies issued a warning in February that there was a significant likelihood that on December 22, 2032, 2024 YR4 would strike Earth.

The situation was considered serious enough that better observations were required, even though the majority of experts anticipated that as scientists