The European Space Agency released this image on April 2, 2025, showing asteroid 2024 YR4 as captured by NASA's Webb Telescope. AP
The Webb Space Telescope has captured images of asteroid 2024 YR4, which once sparked concern when scientists thought it might hit Earth. Late last year, experts predicted a 3% chance of impact in 2032. However, more observations ruled out the danger, lowering the risk to almost zero. There is still a small chance it could hit the moon, but scientists are not worried. The asteroid passes by Earth every four years.
NASA and the European Space Agency shared the images on Wednesday. In the pictures, the asteroid appears as a blurry dot. Scientists confirmed that it is nearly 200 feet (60 meters) wide, about the size of a 15-story building. It is the smallest object ever seen by the Webb Telescope, which is the most powerful observatory ever launched into space.
Astronomer Andrew Rivkin from Johns Hopkins University said studying the asteroid is great practice for spotting and tracking other space rocks that might pose a real threat in the future. Scientists have been watching 2024 YR4 with ground telescopes for months, gathering more data to understand its size, movement, and composition.
“This gives us a window to understand what other objects the size of 2024 YR4 are like, including the next one that might be heading our way,” Rivkin said.
The Webb Telescope’s ability to capture detailed images of small asteroids is an important step in planetary defense. With better tools, scientists can detect and study potential threats long before they reach Earth.
