Trending Now - Asteroid 2026 JH2 Set for Safe Close Pass by Earth Soon
WHO:
IFLScience - Astronomers from several observatories, including the Mount Lemmon Survey and the Farpoint Observatory in Eskridge, identified the asteroid.
WHAT:
IFLScience - The asteroid 2026 JH2 is classified as an Apollo class near-Earth object (NEO).
IFLScience - The asteroid is predicted to reach a magnitude of 11.5, making it visible with a modest amateur telescope.
IFLScience - The Virtual Telescope Project will begin livestreaming observations of the asteroid at 7:45 pm UTC on May 18, 2026.
IFLScience - The asteroid, named 2026 JH2, is predicted to make a very close approach to Earth, coming within 0.00064 AU at maximum and 0.00058 AU at minimum.
IFLScience - At its closest approach to Earth, the asteroid will be approximately 90,000 kilometers (56,000 miles) away.
WHERE:
IFLScience - The asteroid will pass close to Earth and the Moon.
WHEN:
IFLScience - The asteroid is expected to make its first close approach to the Moon on Monday, May 18, 2026, at around 6:51 pm UTC.
IFLScience - The asteroid will reach its closest approach to Earth at around 9:23 pm UTC on the same day.
WHY:
New Scientist Space - Simulations suggest that there is no chance of an impact from the asteroid for at least the next century.
IFLScience - Astronomers are constantly scanning the skies for potentially hazardous objects to assess any possible dangers they may pose to Earth.
HOW:
ABC News - The asteroid was identified by astronomers at five observatories.
(UPDATED May 13, 2026 17:43 UTC)
Astronomers have classified the asteroid 2026 JH2 as an Apollo class near-Earth object, and it is expected to reach a magnitude of 11.5, making it visible with a modest amateur telescope. The Virtual Telescope Project will start livestreaming observations of the asteroid at 7:45 PM UTC on May 18, 2026. Fortunately, simulations indicate that there is no chance of an impact from this asteroid for at least the next century.
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(UPDATED May 13, 2026 15:56 UTC)
Astronomers from several observatories, including the Mount Lemmon Survey and the Farpoint Observatory in Eskridge, have identified an asteroid named 2026 JH2, which is predicted to make a very close approach to Earth. On Monday, May 18, 2026, the asteroid will pass within approximately 90,000 kilometers, or 56,000 miles, of our planet, reaching its closest point at around 9:23 PM UTC. This close encounter highlights the ongoing efforts by astronomers to monitor potentially hazardous objects in our solar system.