No threat to Earth, but asteroid could hit the moon in 2032

At one point, the odds of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2032 were as high as about 3% 

Scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4, Nasa said (Alamy/PA)

Scientists have finally given the all-clear to Earth from a newly discovered asteroid.

After two months of observations, scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4, Nasa and the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Tuesday.

At one point, the odds of a strike in 2032 were as high as about 3% and topped the world’s asteroid-risk lists.

The ESA has since lowered the odds to 0.001%. Nasa had it down to 0.0027% — meaning the asteroid will safely pass Earth in 2032 and there is no threat of impact for the next century.

But there is still a 1.7% chance that the asteroid could hit the moon on December 22 2032, according to Nasa.

The world’s telescopes will continue to track the asteroid as it heads away from Earth, with the Webb Space Telescope zooming in next month to pinpoint its size.

It is expected to vanish from view in another month or two.

Discovered in December, the asteroid is an estimated 40 metres to 90 metres across, and swings towards Earth every four years.

“While this asteroid no longer poses a significant impact hazard to Earth, 2024 YR4 provided an invaluable opportunity” for study, Nasa said in a statement.