Newly Discovered Asteroid Will Make A Close Flyby Of Earth
The asteroid is between 50 and 100 feet across.
wpoc.iheart.comHere’s the latest on asteroid 2026 JH2 and its Earth approach.
-
What’s happening: 2026 JH2 is a small near-Earth object, estimated to be bus-sized, and it is expected to pass relatively close to Earth in May 2026. Multiple outlets report a close approach on or around May 18, 2026, with distances commonly described as tens of thousands to around 90,000 km from Earth’s surface, depending on the source’s framing. This is far closer than typical near-Earth asteroid flybys, but it remains well above ground impact risk.[2][6][8]
-
Estimated distance and size: The object is estimated to be roughly 50–115 feet (15–35 meters) in diameter. The flyby distance is often cited around 90,000 km (about 0.24 lunar distances), though precise numbers can vary slightly as observations refine its orbit.[5][6][2]
-
How to observe: Because of its close approach and modest size, 2026 JH2 could brighten enough to be seen with modest amateur telescopes, and livestreams or online observations are planned by observatories and the Virtual Telescope Project. If you’re in London, you’ll want clear dark skies and a decent telescope or binoculars, aiming for the local observing window around the event time in UTC May 18–19.[4][8][2]
-
Why it’s notable: While not a threat, such close flybys are valuable for studying asteroid composition and orbital dynamics, and they highlight the importance of ongoing asteroid survey efforts. Space astronomy outlets and observatories have used the event to illustrate planetary defense concepts and public engagement opportunities.[6][2][4]
-
For trusted updates: Check official NASA/JPL Sentry or CNEOS pages for the latest orbital updates and when the object will be most favorably placed for observation. News aggregators and space-news outlets have been circulating multiple corroborating reports since early May 2026.[4][6]
Illustration: If you’d like, I can assemble a concise one-page observing brief tailored to London (clear-sky windows, local times in BST, best eyepiece magnifications) and include a simple sky chart. Would you like that?[2][6]