This asteroid has a 2.3% chance of hitting Earth. That's nearly double the percentage reported earlier this month. But experts say it's still not a huge concern – there's still a 97.7% chance it misses the planet entirely.

Space agencies and thousands of astronomers are working against the clock to determine the trajectory of the body before it becomes too distant to observe in May

The asteroid Asteroid 2024 YR4 has a small potential of entering the earth's atmosphere on December 22, 2032 and scientists are still monitoring it.

ESA is closely monitoring the recently discovered asteroid #2024YR4. The asteroid has an almost 99% chance of safely passing Earth in 2032, but a possible impact cannot yet be entirely ruled out. 2024 YR4 is estimated to be between 40 m and 100 m wide. https://t.co/Ab8G1WH2Wp — ESA Operations (@esaoperations) January 29, 2025

The risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth seems to be creeping up as astronomers gather more data, but does that mean we should be scrambling to prepare for an impact in 2032?

The chances of an asteroid striking Earth within the next decade has doubled in a matter of weeks, according to NASA astronomers.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is helping astronomers study asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a small chance of striking Earth on December 22, 2032. Initially detected in December, its impact probability has risen slightly,

Astronomers will use the Webb telescope to closely monitor the size and trajectory of an asteroid that has a slim chance of striking Earth in 2032.

Humanity's most powerful eye on space will be closely examining asteroid 2024 YR4 in the coming weeks and months.