Scientists will now use the James Webb Space Telescope – jointly operated by Nasa and the European and Canadian space agencies – to examine the rock with the hope of better understanding its orbit.
Research should better refine where the asteroid is flying – but also how big it is.
Scientists will point the world’s most powerful telescope at the asteroid 2024 YR4, in the hope of understanding whether it might pose a threat to Earth.
The space rock was found late last last year but the threat of a collision was recently doubled after scientists discovered more information about its route around the solar system.
The Webb telescope is able to look at the infrared light or heat that is emitted from the asteroid, which provides a much better estimate of its size.
