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Moon-hitting asteroid could cause special meteor shower
An extraordinary celestial event could unfold in the night sky in less than a decade if an asteroid passing Earth collides with the Moon. The impact of asteroid 2024 YR4 into the lunar surface would likely send debris flying out towards us, resulting in a unique meteor shower composed entirely of moon dust.
Potential asteroid impact on Moon in 2032 could trigger massive meteor shower on Earth
If Asteroid 2024 YR4 crashes into the Moon, it would create a crater more than half a mile in diameter (1 km), becoming the largest impact in about 5,000 years, according to the study. Current calculations show, if it happens, an impact would occur on the Southern Hemisphere.
The asteroid that will spare Earth might hit the moon instead. What happens if it does?
The asteroid known as 2024 YR4 is out of sight yet still very much on scientists' minds as its revised trajectory is now drawing attention to another possible target: the moon.
This ‘city killer’ asteroid could hit the moon: “We realize that an impact on the moon could be consequential”
Asteroid 2024 YR4, once feared to hit Earth, now has a 4.3% chance of striking the Moon by 2032, possibly visible from Earth if it does.
‘City Killer’ Asteroid Won’t Hit Earth, But What Happens If It Slams Into The Moon?
The latest data on asteroid 2024 YR4 has scientists confident that Earth is no longer in the bullseye. However the enormous space rock could hit the moon in late 2032 and that could have some implications for our planet.
Asteroid Set to Miss Earth Could Hit the Moon — What Happens If It Does?
The Moon, unlike Earth, lacks an atmosphere to absorb or deflect impact debris. A direct hit from YR4 could create a crater nearly 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) wide, comparable to Arizona’s Meteor Crater. Simulations suggest the impact could eject up to 100 million kilograms (220 million pounds) of lunar rock and dust into space.
What happens if Asteroid YR4 spares Earth, but slams into the moon?
YR4 was detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS telescope, in Río Hurtado, Chile, two days after the asteroid had already made its closest pass by Earth, hidden by the bright glare of the sun as it approached our planet.
How do scientists calculate the probability that an asteroid could hit Earth?
Any uncertainty in the calculation of the object’s orbit causes variations in the predicted solution. Instead of one precise orbit, the calculation usually gives scientists a cloud of its possible orbits. The ellipse enclosing these locations is called an error ellipse.
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Space.com18d
Asteroid 2024 YR4 won't Earth but it could still ruin your day: Here's ...
Earth may be safe from an impact by the asteroid 2024 YR4, but it still has a chance of striking the moon. This lunar impact could pose a risk to space tech and astronauts.