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.

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.

Astronomers are using the James Webb telescope to study an asteroid that has a small chance of hitting Earth in 2032.