Newly Discovered Asteroid 2026 JH2 To Make Very Close Flyby Of Earth

InnovationScienceNewly Discovered Asteroid 2026 JH2 To Make Very Close Flyby Of EarthByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorMay 13, 2026, 02:03am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Newly discovered asteroid 2026 JH2 will safely pass just 90,000 km above Earth on 18 May, offering astronomers a rare and dramatic close flyby. (Artist's impression)gettyA near-Earth asteroid will make a very close flyby of Earth on Monday, May 16, posing no danger to the planet. The asteroid, called 2026 JH2, is set to get to within just 56,000 miles (90,000 km) of Earth — around a quarter of the average Earth-moon distance.It also means 2026 JH2 will get significantly closer to Earth than some satellites orbiting Earth.What We Know About Asteroid 2026 JH2The asteroid was recently added to the Minor Planet Center’s database after being discovered by astronomers at the Mount Lemmon Survey in Tucson, Arizona, and Farpoint Observatory in Eskridge, Kansas.Scientists have classified it as an Apollo-class near-Earth object, a category describing asteroids whose orbits cross Earth’s path around the sun. 2026 JH2 appears to follow an elongated path around the sun that stretches from Earth’s neighborhood toward the outer solar system, though not quite as far as Jupiter’s orbit.Objects like 2026 JH2 are closely monitored because their trajectories bring them relatively near Earth during parts of their orbit — though there is no chance of an impact.How Big Is Asteroid 2026 JH2?MORE FOR YOUIt’s not yet known how large 2026 JH2 is. However, based on its absolute magnitude of 26.14, estimates suggest the asteroid measures between 50 and 115 feet (15-35 meters) across, depending on how reflective its surface is. That’s about the same size as the object responsible for...