2024 YR4 has a close(ish) encounter with the Earth every 4 years; it will pass within 8 million km in 2028 before the very close pass/potential impact in 2032. You can see info for close encounters here.
Coming back to this: You mean to say we’ve got three years to execute a mission to give it a little nudge now, so we don’t have to give it a big nudge in 7 years? (Into earth’s orbit, of course.)
Yep, the plan to redirect it, if needed, would’ve been to hit it as it went past in 2028. (Its orbit has been refined enough by now to be nearly certain it won’t hit the Earth).
2024 YR4 has a close(ish) encounter with the Earth every 4 years; it will pass within 8 million km in 2028 before the very close pass/potential impact in 2032. You can see info for close encounters here.
Coming back to this: You mean to say we’ve got three years to execute a mission to give it a little nudge now, so we don’t have to give it a big nudge in 7 years? (Into earth’s orbit, of course.)
Yep, the plan to redirect it, if needed, would’ve been to hit it as it went past in 2028. (Its orbit has been refined enough by now to be nearly certain it won’t hit the Earth).
Well, huh. TIL.
Serves me right for half remembering something and assuming the first search result explains it.