Scientists (mostly) rule out this newly discovered asteroid hitting Earth in the next decade

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — 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 said Tuesday.

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

READ MORE: Spacecraft on its way to investigate asteroid slammed by NASA in a previous save-the-Earth test

ESA has since lowered the odds to 0.001 percent. NASA had it down to 0.0027 percent — meaning the asteroid will safely pass Earth in 2032 and there’s no threat of impact for the next century.

Discovery images of asteroid 2024 YR4. Image by ATLAS

But there’s still a 1.7 percent chance that asteroid could hit the moon on Dec. 22, 2032, according to NASA. The world’s telescopes will continue to track the asteroid as it heads away from us, with the Webb Space Telescope zooming in next month to pinpoint its size. It’s expected to vanish from view in another month or two.

READ MORE: Researchers say an ancient asteroid strike carved out 2 grand canyons on the moon

Discovered in December, the asteroid is an estimated 130 feet to 300 feet (40 meters to 90 meters) across, and swings our way 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.