2024 YR4

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/2024-yr4

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered 2024 YR4?December 27, 2024, by ATLAS at Río Hurtado, Chile
2. What is the estimated diameter range?53 to 67 meters (174 to 220 feet)
3. What is the orbital classification?Apollo-type, Earth-crossing near-Earth object
4. How big is 2024 YR4?The asteroid is about 53 to 67 meters wide, which is roughly the size of a large sports stadium or a tall building.
5. Did 2024 YR4 pose a danger to Earth?At first it had a Torino scale rating of 3, meaning there was a small chance of hitting Earth in 2032. After more observations the rating dropped to 0, so it is no longer considered a threat.

Apollo-type asteroid: A class of asteroids whose orbits are characterized by semi-major axes larger than Earth's and perihelia that bring them inside Earth's orbit.
Near-Earth Object (NEO): A celestial body whose orbit brings it into proximity with Earth, posing a potential impact hazard.
Torino Scale: A logarithmic scale used to classify the potential hazard of near-Earth objects based on their probability of collision and kinetic energy.
Planetary Defense: The scientific and engineering discipline focused on detecting, tracking, and mitigating potential asteroid or comet impacts on Earth.