Astronomers will use the Webb telescope to closely monitor the size and trajectory of an asteroid that has a slim chance of striking Earth in 2032.

NASA's watchful eye on the skies has recently spotted asteroid Bennu, a celestial body with a slim chance of impacting Earth. According to a study published in Science Advances, Bennu's odds of striking are 1 in 2,700, with the potential event occurring in the year 2182—over a century away. While the prospect of an asteroid impact conjures scenes from popular sci-fi movies, the reality is much less immediate. A collision, though unlikely in the immediate future, could lead to drastic climatic changes akin to a global winter, with cooler temperatures and reduced rainfall. Such an event is incredibly rare, with similar-sized asteroids colliding with our planet once every 100,000 to 200,000 years. This discovery underscores the importance of continued space monitoring for planetary defense while assuring the public that Bennu does not pose an immediate threat to global safety.

"A few meters off is a lot."

The rock is hurtling through space at a zippy 9,194 miles per hour—many times faster than a speeding bullet.