UPDATE: ‘City Killer’ Asteroid Less Likely to Smash Into Earth, But There’s Still a Chance

An increased risk of an asteroid colliding with Earth has been downgraded just days after experts sounded alarms.

What Is Known About The Asteroid So Far?

The 180-foot asteroid is newly discovered, but astronomers seem to have a pretty good idea of what is headed for us.

Space.com is reporting the asteroid, known as 2024 YR4, is currently 27 million miles away.  That puts the asteroid on track to potentially collide with Earth in December 2032.

If this sounds like something that would never happen, you'd be right... Well, almost.

IFLScience.com says the 2024 YR4 is rated a level 3 on the Torino risk scale, which measures the likelihood of impact.  Most asteroids discovered site at a level 0 due to the absence of threat to Earth.

This one is different.

Initial reports predicted a 1-in-83 chance of the asteroid coming in contact with Earth. That estimate was moved to 1 in 67 earlier this week.

According to Space.com, new data has NASA downgrading the threat. Imaging now shows the asteroid measuring around 180 feet wide compared to the initial 196 feet estimate provided upon its initial discovery.

Smaller asteroid means less of a chance of it ramming into Earth. NASA is now predicting a 1-in-360 chance of the two meeting.

What Would Happen If The Asteroid Collides With Earth?

While the chance of the asteroid smacking into Earth is small, there is still a chance.

Astronomers know the asteroid's size and how quickly it is traveling. This allows them to determine what, if any, potential impact the collision would make.

"These types of asteroids are often called 'city killers,'" TheWeatherNetwork.com says.

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An impact made in 2013 created an "air-burst explosion" that shattered windows. The website predicts the impact of the 2024 YR4 "would be 15-20 times more powerful."