What we know about asteroid that has a chance of directly hitting earth in seven years

NASA has identified an asteroid that has a small chance of hitting Earth in 2032.

The asteroid named '2024 YR4' has been detected almost 27 million miles away, yet the space agency say it has caught their 'attention'.

So here's everything we know so far about this asteroid.

Artist's impression of the asteroid 2024 YR4 (ESA-Science Office)

When was 2024 YR4 discovered?

2024 YR4 was discovered by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile on 27 December, last year.

ATLAS reported their finding to the Minor Planet Center, who confirmed its positional measurements.

How big is 2024 YR4?

The asteroid is estimated to be 130 to 330 feet (40 to 100 metres) across, according to estimates from its reflected light.

At the moment, it's moving away from Earth at around 8.24 miles per second (13.26 kilometers per second).

When could 2024 YR4 strike earth? (and how this was calculated)

NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies has said that there is a chance 2024 YR4 could collide with our planet on six separate times between 2032 and 2071, according to Gizmodo.com.

Although, Paul Chodas, director of NASA's Centre for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), has given the asteroid a 1.2 percent probability of hitting Earth in 2032.

“We are not worried at all, because of this 99 percent chance it will miss,” he said. “But it deserves attention.”

The European Space Agency have also said that it's 99 per cent likely that it was pass safely in 2032, however, a possible impact 'cannot be ruled out'.

Asteroid impact probabilities have been calculated by NASA’s Sentry Impact Risk Table. The table is basically an automated monitoring system that recalculates the impact possibilities of asteroids close-by to Earth over the next 100 years.

The asteroid was discovered in December (Getty Stock Images)

Currently, according to CNEOS, the asteroid is on level three of the Torino Scale, which falls under the category of 'meriting attention from astronomers' - with the good news being that asteroids on that end of the scale have an impact probability above one per cent.

According to a statement from the International Asteroid Warning Network, the asteroid's 'risk corridor' - the most likely geographical area it could impact - is from South America across the Atlantic Ocean to sub-Saharan Africa.

What impact would it have on earth?

The asteroid is big enough to potentially wipe out a city, such as Kansas City, according to Mashable.

But Rankin also told Space.com that 'people should absolutely not worry about this yet'.

"Impact probability is still very low, and the most likely outcome will be a close approaching rock that misses us." he added.

What we could do to protect the plant in event of a strike?

NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission proved to be a success in 2022, as they intentionally managed to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid as method of deflection, the BBC reports.

The mission was a first-of-its-kind, and the DART spacecraft collided with Dimorphos, shortening its orbit by 32 minutes.

So I guess we could just do that again if needed?