See Boeing 737-Sized Asteroid Pass Much Closer Than The Moon Tonight

InnovationScienceSee Boeing 737-Sized Asteroid Pass Much Closer Than The Moon TonightByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorMay 18, 2026, 08:48am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.When at its closest at 4:16 p.m. EDT (20:16 UTC) on June 27, 2011 UL21 will be one of the largest asteroids to have recently passed near Earth.gettyA newly discovered near-Earth asteroid known as 2026 JH2 will make a very close pass by Earth on Monday, May 18, though scientists stress there is no danger of an impact. The asteroid is expected to pass within approximately 56,907 miles (91,583 kilometers) of Earth — roughly one-quarter of the average distance between Earth and the moon. Its close pass will be live-streamed here at 3:45 p.m. EDT on May 18:How Big Is 2026 JH2?Scientists estimate 2026 JH2 measures somewhere between 52 and 114 feet (15 to 35 meters) across, based on its brightness and reflectivity. Roughly as long as a Boeing 737’s wingspan, it’s comparable in size to the asteroid responsible for the famous Chelyabinsk airburst over Russia in 2013. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is classifying the asteroid as house-sized. If an asteroid of this scale struck Earth, it would most likely explode midair in what scientists call an airburst. Such an explosion could release energy comparable to a small nuclear weapon, creating a powerful shockwave capable of shattering windows and causing localized damage over a wide area.MORE FOR YOUWhile not considered an extinction-level threat, objects this size are still regarded as potentially hazardous on a regional scale.When Was 2026 JH2 Discovered?2026 JH2 was recently added to the Minor Planet Center database following its discovery on May 10 by astronomers working with the Mount Lemmon Survey in Tucson, Arizo...