Chilling graphic shows ‘Christmas asteroid’ the size of a football pitch on trajectory to hit Earth in seven years
Chilling graphic shows ‘Christmas asteroid’ the size of a football pitch on trajectory to hit Earth in seven years
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A CHILLING graphic shows how an asteroid the size of a football pitch is on course to smash into Earth at Christmas time in seven years. Scientists say the enormous space rock is between 40 and 100 metres wide and would wipe out humanity it if hits. The asteroid, named 2024 YR4, has been rated as the highest risk ever recorded by the European Space Agency (ESA).
![[Illustration of 2024 YR4 asteroid's trajectory, showing its proximity to Earth and potential impact.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KH_30_01_CHRISTMAS_IMPACTv2_c775e5.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
If it smashed into Earth, it would leave a crater the size of Manchester and wreak mass death and global destruction. An impact this size could even cause the collapse of human society, according to experts. Astronomers have calculated there is a 1 in 83 chance of the space rock smashing into Earth - or 1.2 per cent.
![[Illustration of an asteroid impacting Earth.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/200-kilometres-wide-impact-thrown-947762977.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It is currently speeding away from our planet at 38,000mph, but will circle back around the sun when its path could intersect Earth's. The asteroid was spotted by a special monitoring telescope in Chile, South America, on Christmas Day. Projections show its path could cross over with earth's orbit around Christmas time in 2032 - specifically 5:25am on Wednesday, December 22.
![[World map with a red line indicating a flight path.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/image_202c59.png?strip=all&w=908)
The collision has been rated level three on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale - the highest for any rock currently being monitored. The second-most risky asteroid has just a 0.68 chance per cent of hitting earth - about half of YR4. Level three on the Torino scale is described by Nasa as: "Current calculations give a 1% or greater chance of collision capable of localized destruction.
![[Illustration of an asteroid approaching Earth.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/asteroid-approaching-earth-computer-artwork-967536812_d6c69d.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
