Newly Discovered Asteroid to Make Close Pass by Earth
The Apollo-class asteroid is estimated at 50 to 115 feet wide and will offer astronomers a rare close-range observation opportunity.
- On Monday, May 18, newly discovered asteroid 2026 JH2 will safely pass Earth at about 56,000 miles, with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory classifying it as an Apollo-class near-Earth object posing no collision risk.
- Astronomers at the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona and Farpoint Observatory in Kansas recently discovered 2026 JH2, noting that such small asteroids are notoriously difficult to track due to limited light reflection.
- Scientists estimate the asteroid measures between 50 and 115 feet, comparable to the object behind Russia's 2013 Chelyabinsk airburst, and will pass within 24% of the average lunar distance.
- The Virtual Telescope Project will broadcast the flyby live online at 21:45 UTC on May 18, while amateur astronomers may observe the asteroid through modest telescopes as it brightens before closest approach.
- This flyby precedes the 2029 encounter with near-Earth asteroid Apophis, which will pass just 20,000 miles from Earth as improved observation capabilities continue expanding the database of smaller bodies.
56 Articles
56 Articles
Asteroid to pass near Earth closer than the Moon on Monday
According to a report from BBC Sky at Night Magazine, a newly detected near-Earth asteroid roughly the size of a basketball court is approaching our planet for an exceptionally close flyby this Monday, passing well inside the Moon’s orbit but posing no collision risk. Astronomers discovered the object, designated 2026 JH2, just days ago on […]
Another newly discovered asteroid to make close pass by Earth
It was first spotted over the weekend An asteroid is going to whiz by Earth on Monday evening, but don't worry, it's not going to hit us. Astronomers say it's somewhere in the ballpark of 50 to 100 feet wide, according to its reflective properties, and it's poised to pass within 56,000 miles of our planet (around a quarter of the distance to the moon). Dubbed 2026 JH2 in the Minor Planet Center database, the near-Earth object was first spotted o…
Asteroid JH2 is set to pass extremely close to Earth in a few days. The city-killing object could cause as much destruction as the Chelyabinsk meteor explosion, but experts say there is no immediate threat of an impact.
Asteroid 2026 JH2 is rapidly approaching Earth, and it is being reported that it could pass closer than the Moon. According to scientists, it is extremely rare for an asteroid to come this close. If its path changes and it collides with Earth, it could cause massive devastation and even wipe out entire cities.
Asteroid 2026 JH2 is not long known – and will come much closer to Earth on Monday for a short time than the moon.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
