Asteroid crashes into the Moon, what will happen to Earth?

The chances of asteroid 2024 YR4 colliding with the Moon in 2032 are increasing. If the collision happens, will Earth be in disaster?

New simulations show that the “city killer” asteroid 2024 YR4 could rain down nuclear-bomb-like debris on Earth if it hits the Moon in 2032. The collision could potentially trigger a meteor shower and pose a hazard to satellites orbiting Earth. Photo: Adastra via Getty Images.

2024 YR4 is an asteroid about 60 meters in size, large enough to wipe out a major urban area if it hit Earth. The asteroid was first recorded in December 2024. Image: Wiegert, Brown, Lopes & Connors 2025.

In early 2025, scientists first predicted that 2024 YR4 could hit Earth on December 22, 2032. The chance of an impact peaked at 3.1% in February, prompting NASA to conduct in-depth research on the dangerous asteroid. Photo: ATLAS.

However, subsequent analysis has shown that asteroid 2024 YR4 is unlikely to impact Earth. However, in April, researchers discovered that although Earth is not within range of impact, 2024 YR4 has a chance of hitting the Moon. The odds of impact have been slowly but steadily increasing, most recently reaching 4.3% in early June. Photo: James Thew/Alamy Stock Photo.

From this data, experts calculated and knew the possibility of collision of 2024 YR4 in 2028, when this asteroid will approach closer to Earth. Photo: indiatoday.

In a new study, researchers ran computer simulations to model what a lunar impact might look like. The team estimates that up to 100 million kilograms of material could be ejected from the lunar surface. Image: ESA.

If 2024 YR4 hits the Earth-facing side of the Moon (which is about a 50/50 chance), up to 10% of this debris could be pulled in by the planet's gravity in the coming days. Photo: NASA.

2024 YR4 would be the largest asteroid to hit the Moon in “at least 5,000 years,” said study lead author Paul Wiegert. He added that the impact would be “equivalent to a large nuclear explosion in terms of the amount of energy released.” Photo: Erik Simonsen via Getty Images.

It is unlikely that any potential debris would pose a danger to humans on Earth. Instead, we could be treated to a “spectacular” meteor shower as stray pieces of rock burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. This could last for days and be visible to people all over the world . Photo: bizzbuzz.

However, human space infrastructure could be at risk. This is because the amount of debris that could be pulled closer to Earth would make our satellite about 1,000 times more likely to be hit by a meteorite. In response to this, experts have come up with a response plan, including a proposal to divert the asteroid’s orbit to protect Earth. Photo: tovima.

Readers are invited to watch the video : Universe map with more than 900,000 stars, galaxies and black holes. Source: THĐT1.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/tieu-hanh-tinh-lao-xuong-mat-trang-trai-dat-se-gap-dieu-gi-post1553028.html