On 27 December last year, astronomers using the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile discovered a small asteroid moving away from Earth. Follow up observations have revealed that the asteroid, 2024 YR4, i

Experts are tracking asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a 1.2% chance of impacting Earth in 2032. Observations continue to refine its path.

YR4 was first discovered in December last year by a telescope in Chile. The near-Earth asteroid is as big as a football field, measuring 40 to 100 metres across.

Researchers say there’s a 1.3 percent chance that the space rock 2024 YR4 could strike our planet — but not until December 2032.

The possibility of the asteroid 2024 YR4 impacting our planet might not be ruled out until 2028, raising the prospect we’ll need to prepare for the worst

The European Space Agency has stated that the asteroid will safely pass through the Earth with 99% chance of not having any collision, however a possible impact "cannot yet be entirely ruled out".

The closest of the asteroids to us—estimated to be about the size of a car—is whizzing through space at 27,358 miles per hour.

NASA has identified a newly discovered near-Earth asteroid which has sparked interest due to its potential for impact. According to NASA’s analysis, the asteroid, called 2024 YR4, has a more than one percent chance of colliding with Earth on Wednesday,