Near-Earth asteroid 2004 MN4 reaches Torino Scale hazard rating 4

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Friday, December 24, 2004

Houston – NASA's Near Earch Object Program Office has recently announced that the asteroid named 2004 MN4, discovered last June, has the highest risk of earth impact to date. In the December 23 annoncement, NASA advised that the 400-meter wide asteroid has a 1 in 300 chance of colliding with earth. As scientists gather more data on 2004 MN4, the probability of collision with earth is expected to decrease.

The level of impact risk is measured in terms of Torino Impact Hazard Scale, and the MN4's score was initially 2 out of 10. 2004 MN4 is expected to come closest to the Earth on April 14, 2029.

Sources

• Don Yeomans, Steve Chesley and Paul Chodas "Near-Earth Asteroid 2004 MN4 Reaches Highest Score To Date On Hazard Scale". NASA, December 23, 2004 - news release from Near Earth Object Program Office.
• 2004 MN4 Earth Impact Risk Summary, Near Earth Object Program Office, NASA.
• Torino Impact Hazard Scale, NASA. Last updated December 2003.
• Michael Sims, anonymous "Introducing Asteroid 2004 MN4". Slashdot, December 24, 2004

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