On May 18, the asteroid 2026 JH2 will pass at a minimum distance from Earth — about 90 thousand kilometers, which is approximately four times closer than the Moon's orbit. The space object was discovered just a few days before the approach, and it can be observed by owners of amateur telescopes.
The asteroid was discovered just a few days before its closest approach to Earth. Scientists believe that a collision with it could lead to casualties and destruction, especially if it falls in a densely populated area.
An asteroid is approaching Earth that could collide with the Moon
In size, 2026 JH2 is about half the size of those asteroids referred to as "city killers." Most likely, the asteroid will fall into the ocean, but other scenarios cannot be ruled out.
Its diameter is between 16 and 30 meters — about the size of a three-story building or the length of a bus. 2026 JH2 can be seen through amateur telescopes with an aperture of 150–200 mm.
In the editorial's opinion, while there is currently no threat to the planet, such close approaches highlight the importance of early detection systems for asteroids and continuous monitoring of potentially hazardous objects.
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