In brief: The James Webb Space Telescope has been "recruited" to take a closer look at asteroid 2024 YR4. The giant space object, composed of rock, dust, and possibly other materials, now has a 1-in-48 chance of impacting Earth by December 2032, but we still have time to get ready and brace for impact. Discovered on December 27, 2024, asteroid 2024 YR4 is currently rated as a three on the Torino scale. Space agencies around the world are closely monitoring the situation, with the European Space Agency set to use the James Webb Space Telescope to provide a more precise risk assessment.Researchers at the ESA are updating the most relevant data about asteroid 2024 YR4 on a daily basis. Today's assessment confirms that the asteroid has a diameter between 40 and 90 meters, and a two percent probability of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. Currently, astronomers studying asteroid 2024 YR4 are limited to using instruments that detect visible light reflected from the Sun.As a general rule, the brighter the asteroid, the larger it is. However, things can get complicated if the asteroid has a highly reflective surface. It could either be 40 meters across and very reflective, or 90 meters across and much less reflective.A precise estimation of the asteroid's size will be crucial for properly assessing the threat, as a 90-meter, high-speed body could cause significantly more damage than a 40-meter one.Webb will be particularly useful for studying asteroid 2024 YR4. The orbiting observatory operates in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which allows for more accurate estimates of the asteroid's size based on the heat it emits. // Related StoriesESA scientists recently published a paper highlighting the telescope's ability to detect very small bodies (less than 10 meters across) within the asteroid belt, which lies between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars.Astronomers will rely on two specific JWST instruments: the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) and the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). By combining data from MIRI and NIRCam, ESA scientists hope to obtain more precise measurements of the asteroid's size and position. The NIRCam will be particularly useful for tracking the asteroid's position when it is out of reach of Earth-based telescopes.The European Space Agency plans to conduct three separate observation campaigns using the JWST. The first will take place in March, when asteroid 2024 YR4 will be at its brightest and within the telescope's range. The second round is scheduled for May, to track changes in the asteroid's temperature. The final round of observations will occur in 2028, aimed at studying the asteroid's orbit around the Sun.