New observations of a small asteroid discovered in December have led astronomers to conclude that the chances of it striking Earth are almost zero, after earlier data had indicated a higher risk of a collision with this space rock about 40 to 90 metres wide.

NASA announced Monday that the asteroid, named 2024 YR 4, no longer poses a “significant threat” to Earth in 2032 or beyond. “NASA analysis drops asteroid 2024 YR4's impact probability to 0.004%, meaning it is expected to safely pass by Earth in 2032,” NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office posted on X Monday.