What if a giant asteroid slammed into the moon—and sent a hail of lunar debris hurtling toward Earth?
That’s exactly what scientists are now warning could happen in 2032.
Asteroid 2024 YR4, once briefly thought to pose a threat to Earth, is now setting its sights on the moon with a 4.3% chance of impact.
And if it hits? Picture a crater the size of a city and millions of kilograms of lunar rock flying through space—some heading straight for us.
While most debris would harmlessly burn up in the atmosphere, some fragments could threaten satellites or spacecraft.
This is according to a new (yet-to-be-peer-reviewed) study from Canadian researchers.
What Will Be The Impact?
“This would be the largest lunar impact in about 5,000 years,” says Dr. Paul Wiegert, the study’s lead author.
He compares the explosion to “a large nuclear blast.” Good news? NASA says the moon’s orbit won’t budge.
And better yet—a stunning meteor shower could light up our skies.
Still, Wiegert adds, “A centimetre-sized rock traveling that fast is like a bullet.”
Bottom line? Spectacle in the sky, yes—but space agencies will be keeping a close watch.
After all, defending Earth might soon mean defending the moon too.
