“On Christmas Eve, NASA issued its highest-ever threat warning when it gave asteroid 2004 MN4 a rating of four on the 10-point Torino Scale used to rate intergalactic threats. The highest previous rating was one.
The rating for 2004 MN4 means there is a 1.6 per cent chance it and Earth will collide when they crosses paths on April 13, 2029.
Astronomy educator Paul Floyd said 2004 MN4 was first discovered in March 2004, but contact was lost until it was rediscovered on December 19.
He said it is about 440m in diameter and is larger than many of the asteroids to collide with the Earth in its recent history.”
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