Astronomers have discovered a new asteroid that will pass very close to Earth. The space object named 2026 JH2 will pass just 90,000 kilometers from our planet on May 18.
Democrat.az reports that this distance is about a quarter of the average distance between the Earth and the Moon.
The asteroid determined by observatories in Arizona and Kansas will be closer to Earth than the orbits of some satellites. This object, classified as an Apollo-type, has a trajectory that intersects Earth's orbit as it revolves around the Sun. Scientists state that 2026 JH2 does not pose any collision risk but that its trajectory is being closely monitored.
The asteroid's dimensions are estimated to be between 15-35 meters. This is nearly the same size as the famous space object that exploded over the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia in 2013. The asteroid's brightness is increasing and will reach a level observable with amateur telescopes.
It should be noted that this event provides a rare research opportunity for scientists. The Virtual Telescope Project plans to broadcast the asteroid's passage live from Italy on May 18. Such close passes are considered invaluable opportunities to study the effect of Earth's gravity on the asteroids' rotational motion and surface.
18.05.2026, 07:00
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Zara Editor