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Asteroid 2024 YR4 could still hit the moon, JWST observations reveal (www.newscientist.com)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/science@beehaw.org
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https://archive.ph/H5h3n

Astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope to observe asteroid 2024 YR4, which earlier this year seemed to be at risk of hitting Earth in 2032. Earth is now safe, but astronomers are cheering on a possible collision with the moon

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[–] 4 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Anyone else having mixed feelings about being happy it crashes the moon? (instead of hoping our companion will be left alone) ....

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Regardless of the size, I’m willing to let the moon take one for the team. If the asteroid is huge, there’s going to be lots of ejecta, some of which will hit earth. Still better than getting smacked in the face with a huge rock.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    some of which will hit earth

    Hopefully in one particular spot.

    Joking aside, if there is going to be a lots of debris hitting us, I wonder how much warning we'll get.

    Also if it does hit the moon, what are the chances of mankind realising once and for all that we are on a small fragile rock zipping through space and we'd be better off taking care of it instead of petty bickering about what toilets people are using?

    I won't hold my breath.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    If we know that the world is coming to turn to ash within a month, year or so, it’s going to be pure chaos all the way till the very end. Hopefully we can push those asteroids away long before they even come close.

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