2032 Moon Impact Could Unleash New Lunar Science from a Tiny Asteroid

A 60-meter asteroid (2024 YR4) has about a 4% chance to strike the Moon on December 22, 2032. If it hits, it could form a ~1 km crater with a 100 m molten pool, trigger a magnitude-5.0 “moonquake,” vaporize rock, and loft up to 400 kg of debris that could reach Earth, potentially posing risks to satellites and even ground hazards. Yet scientists see this as a rare, invaluable chance to study lunar geology, interior structure, and crater formation in real time using telescopes and space assets, while some agencies consider deflection to prevent the impact. The piece notes Universe Today as the original source.