An asteroid may hit Earth

Vocab

  • Asteroid – Tiểu hành tinh

    • Example: Scientists are tracking a massive asteroid approaching Earth.

    • (Các nhà khoa học đang theo dõi một tiểu hành tinh đang tiến gần Trái Đất.)

  • Collide – Va chạm

    • Example: If two galaxies collide, they can form a new, larger galaxy.

    • (Nếu hai thiên hà va chạm, chúng có thể tạo thành một thiên hà lớn hơn.)

    • As more data is gathered, scientists can refine their calculations and often rule out a collision.

  • Rule out – Loại trừ

    • Example: The doctor ruled out

    • (Bác sĩ đã loại trừ ung thư sau khi kết quả xét nghiệm trở về bình thường.)

  • Refine – Tinh chỉnh, cải thiện

    • Example: Engineers are working to refine the spacecraft's navigation system.

    • (Các kỹ sư đang làm việc để tinh chỉnh hệ thống điều hướng của tàu vũ trụ.)

  • Deflection – Sự lệch hướng, chuyển hướng

    • Example: The spacecraft's impact caused a slight deflection in the asteroid's path.

    • (Va chạm của tàu vũ trụ đã gây ra một sự lệch hướng nhỏ trong quỹ đạo của tiểu hành tinh.)

  • Altering – Thay đổi, điều chỉnh

    • Example: Climate change is altering weather patterns around the world.

    • (Biến đổi khí hậu đang thay đổi các kiểu thời tiết trên khắp thế giới.)

Rewrite

  1. Last year, scientists found an asteroid 2024 YR4, which they are watching because it may hit Earth.
    → Scientists are closely tracking asteroid 2024 YR4, which was discovered last year.

  2. The asteroid is between 40 and 90 meters wide and may come close to Earth on December 22, 2032.

    → It is estimated to be between 40 and 90 meters wide and may come very close to Earth on December 22, 2032.

  3. There is a small chance, about 2%, that it could hit our planet.
    → Currently, there is a 2% chance that it could hit the planet, which is slightly higher than previous predictions.

  4. Scientists say there is no reason to worry because the chance of it missing Earth is still very high.
    → However, experts stress there is still a 98% probability that it won’t collide with Earth.

  5. When astronomers spot an asteroid, they don’t know exactly where it will go.
    → When an asteroid is first spotted, there is a large area of uncertainty regarding its exact path.

  6. As they collect more information, they can calculate its path better.
    → As more data is gathered, scientists can refine their calculations and often rule out a collision.

  7. If they see that it is coming towards Earth, they can try to change its direction.

    → If further observations confirm that the asteroid is on a direct course for Earth, a deflection mission could be launched.

  8. NASA tested this method by hitting an asteroid with a spacecraft.
    → NASA has already tested this approach by successfully altering the orbit of another asteroid.

  9. For now, scientists will keep studying 2024 YR4 before it becomes invisible in May, and they won’t see it again until 2028.
    → For now, astronomers will continue to observe 2024 YR4, using tools like the James Webb Space Telescope, before it moves out of sight until 2028.