The asteroid, called 2024 YR4, is roughly 130 to 300 feet across. It was first reported on Dec. 27, 2024, by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System station in Chile. Its impact probability will be refined as more data is collected. It could be ruled out entirely, or it might see its impact probability rise, according to NASA.

A nearly 98 percent chance it won’t hit us is pretty good. Second, while that’s definitely a massive rock, it’s not like a dinosaurs-killing size. Three hundred feet wide is about on par with the asteroid that exploded over Siberia in 1908 (also known as the 1908 Tunguska Event).

Scientists say the threat of a newly discovered asteroid has risen slightly in the past few weeks, as the world's telescopes rush to track its course.