Astronomers may have just discovered the third interstellar object passing through the Solar System!

ESA’s Planetary Defenders are observing the object, provisionally known as #A11pl3Z, right now using telescopes around the world.

One of the great things about the asteroid community is that we're generally pretty collaborative, especially important because Planetary Defense is a global issue. So for YR4 we've had astronomers from around the world working together to compile and synthesize what we've got. 7/ 🔭

Astronomers will turn the James Webb Space Telescope towards asteroid 2024 YR4 next month. The most powerful telescope ever launched into space will provide a more accurate estimate of the size of the asteroid, which has a very small chance of impacting Earth in 2032.
blogs.esa.int/rocketscienc...

☄️ We aren’t just waiting for an asteroid to strike. We are taking active measures to help Earth defend itself against a potential impact.

Which is why we are endorsing the the United Nations' designation of 2029 as the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence.

Check out the February 2025 edition of the Asteroid Newsletter from ESA's Planetary Defence Office! ☄️
The focus this month is on asteroid 2024 YR4, which is being actively monitored by astronomers around the world.
neo.ssa.esa.int/documents/20...

We have an ESA Graduate Trainee position (old YGT) at the Planetary Defence Office. If you are finishing your master degree or have just finished and are interested, you can apply until end of February.

jobs.esa.int/job/Darmstad...