When the sky falls: The rise of asteroid 2024 yr4 and the future of planetary defense

By Steve Jf. Gibbs

In the early months of 2024, a faint object slipped through the watchful eyes of space agencies-a near-Earth asteroid later named 2024 YR4. At first, it seemed insignificant. Then came the simulations. A 3.1% chance of impact. Enough to devastate a city. Enough to panic the world.
When the Sky Falls unravels the high-stakes true story of how one asteroid challenged everything we thought we knew about space safety. From its surprise detection to global headlines, from late-night emergency meetings to the quiet terror of orbital math, this gripping narrative follows the scientists, engineers, and decision-makers standing between Earth and catastrophe.
But this isn't just a story of one rock in space. It's a sweeping investigation into the fragile infrastructure of planetary defense-and how close we came to failing. It reveals hidden gaps in our detection systems, the race to improve deflection technology, and the unexpected role the Moon may play in Earth's future protection.
Fast-paced, scientifically grounded, and as tense as a sci-fi thriller, When the Sky Falls is not just a book about an asteroid-it's a blueprint for survival in an unpredictable universe.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FL6RDSN5
• ISBN13: 9798296511867
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"