On 27 December last year, astronomers using the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile discovered a small asteroid moving away from Earth. Follow-up observations have revealed that the asteroid, 2024 YR4, is on a path that might lead to a collision with our planet on 22 December 2032.

The odds are about 1% that the football field-sized object could hit the Earth, but that makes it the closest call in more than 20 years.

On Wednesday, an unprecedented memo from the International Asteroid Warning Network reached the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and from there winged across the planet to government officials.

A near-Earth asteroid as wide as the Statue of Liberty is tall could strike Earth on Dec.22, 2032, alerting planetary defense groups at the United Nations.

NASA has identified a newly discovered near-Earth asteroid which has sparked interest due to its potential for impact. According to NASA’s analysis, the asteroid, called 2024 YR4, has a more than one percent chance of colliding with Earth on Wednesday,