NASA wants to blow up this 'city killer' asteroid as it has a chance of striking the Moon
Published on Sep 25, 2025 at 11:29 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Sep 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
NASA wants to blow up a ‘city killer’ asteroid, with it having a small enough possibility of striking the moon and causing serious disruption to satellites.
While only a small chance, the thought of a sizeable asteroid crashing into the moon has left astronomers at NASA worried and wanting to prevent it from happening.
The asteroid, dubbed 2024 YR4, may impact the moon in a few years, and the space agency is debating how best to bring the large lump of rock down.
NASA has taken photographs of the asteroid as it flies through space, but they have plenty of time to decide what to do about it.
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The chances of the asteroid hitting the moon
The chances of this asteroid actually striking the moon are pretty remote.
Current estimates say it has a four percent chance of hitting the moon.
If it does strike it, it won’t do so until December 2032.
Should it do so, however, it could leave a crater about 1km/0.6 miles in diameter.
NASA had originally predicted that the asteroid had a small chance of striking the Earth.
However, more recent observations say that the chances of this are now almost negligible.
Observations have worked out that the rock is 65 meters (300ft) long.
Should it hit the moon, though, there is a possibility that 2024 YR4 could do some serious damage.
The impact of the space rock if it hits the moon
If 2024 YR4 did hit the moon, the lunar debris cloud it creates could weigh over 100,000,000kg.
NASA said that it would ‘accrete to the Earth on timescales of a few days.’
It would expose satellites orbiting the Earth to other meteorites for several years.
NASA and other astronomers are planning a ‘kinetic disruption mission’ to prevent this from happening.
In other words, this could involve blowing it up.
Other options on the table include deflecting the space rock or conducting more reconnaissance into its trajectory.
There is even the option of using a nuclear explosive device to blast the asteroid out of the sky.
At the time of writing, the asteroid sits at over 379 million miles away.
Every option on the table will require extensive planning and resources before it can be carried out.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
