World's most powerful telescope to be used to keep Earth safe

If you love stories about space and technology - then this is definitely one for you.

Here at Newsround we have bought you lots of stories about the James Webb Space Telescope - the largest and most powerful space telescope ever launched.

Now it's going to be used to help us learn more about an asteroid and its potential affect on the Earth.

The James Webb Space Telescope was launched into space in 2021

An asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the Sun - this one is called 2024 YR4 and was spotted on 27 December 2024.

The European Space Agency has said it has an almost 99% chance of safely passing our planet on 22 December 2032.

Dr Robert Massey from the Royal Astronomical Society, says he is "not panicking" and there is "no need for alarm".

But, he did say it is important that astronomers are given everything they need to track something like this and take action if they need to as soon as possible.

Scientists estimate that the asteroid is between 40m and 90m across.

A lot of that estimate is based on how much light it reflects from the Sun, but that can be impacted by how reflective the rock itself is.

That's where the James Webb Space Telescope comes in handy, it can also look at what heat is being released by the asteroid which can give a better estimate of its size.

Observations will start in early March when YR4 can first be visible to the telescope.

The asteroid will then fade from view in a few months' time and scientists don't think we will be able to see it again until 2028.