Asteroid 2024 YR4: What kind of damage could it cause if it hit Earth?
The proximity of asteroid 2024 YR4 to Earth has raised concerns in recent days. According to Pablo Cuartas, professor and co-creator of the Astronomy program at the University of Antioquia, if it were to hit our planet, the rocky body could cause significant destruction due to its size and speed.
However, in an interview with El Colombiano , the expert stressed that the probability of impact is minimal and attributed the widespread panic to misinformation circulating on social media.
What damage would asteroid 2024 YR4 cause if it hit Earth?The professor from the University of Antioquia compared the impact that the asteroid would generate if it crashed into Earth with that of a nuclear bomb. This is due to its large size, as it has a diameter of between 40 and 90 meters, and the speed at which it travels, that is, 14 kilometers per second.
You may be interested in: Annual Declaration 2025: these are the people to whom the SAT will not return a balance in their favor"This type of asteroid is known as a city killer, since an explosion of such magnitude could generate a crater up to two kilometers in diameter and devastate an area of approximately 50 kilometers in radius." , said Pablo Cuartas.
He also noted that, based on the calculation of the asteroid's trajectory, there are areas of the world that would be more exposed to the risks of impact:
“In the case of 2024 YR4, its trajectory crosses northern South America —including Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil—, as well as the Atlantic Ocean and part of Africa. These are the areas that, according to simulations, could be on the impact path, although the probability remains extremely low. These calculations are carried out by the Near Object Monitoring Center to evaluate possible scenarios.”
Check this out: "We are children of migrants": Grupo Frontera, after cancellation for supporting Trump Is there cause for alarm due to the proximity of asteroid 2024 YR4?The professor said that "there is no reason to be alarmed" by the proximity of the celestial body, firstly, because there is permanent monitoring of this type of object; and secondly, because the probability of it colliding with Earth is extremely low.
“It is important to stay informed, but through reliable sources. It is not about following rumors on social networks, WhatsApp or X, but rather consulting official sources, such as the NASA Monitoring Center , which constantly updates the impact probability, not only of YR4, but of many other near-Earth objects.”
Read also: This is the film director who DID vote for Karla Sofía Gascón at the OscarsIt should be noted that the Earth is hit by small objects every day; most of them disintegrate in the atmosphere. Impacts by larger objects occur less frequently and can be predicted by monitoring them.
“Throughout history, several asteroids have hit the Earth, but none had generated such media fear. The difference? We are in the 21st century, with massive access to social media and real-time information, which has amplified the global discussion on the subject.”
With information from El Colombiano.
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