Newly Discovered Asteroid to Make Close Pass by Earth
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.
ground.newsHere’s what’s known about asteroid 2026 JH2 as of mid-May 2026.
Answer in brief
- 2026 JH2 was a small near-Earth object that passed by Earth in May 2026, with a closest approach of roughly 90,000–91,000 km on May 18, 2026. It did not pose an impact threat and is well below the size threshold for a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA).[1][3][9]
Key details
- Size and classification: Estimates place 2026 JH2 at tens of meters across (commonly cited as in the 15–35 m range). It is not considered a PHA due to its small size and the lack of an impact trajectory toward Earth.[3][1]
- Encounter timing and distance: The object made a close approach in mid-May 2026, with nominal miss distances on the order of 0.23–0.24 lunar distances (roughly 90,000 km). This distance is far closer than most planetary flybys, yet still safe from impact.[2][1][3]
- Observation arc and uncertainty: As a recently discovered object with a short observational arc (days), its orbital path carried higher uncertainty shortly after discovery, but follow-up observations rapidly reduce this.[1][2]
- Visibility: Some sources indicated the object could reach apparent magnitudes around 11–12 near closest approach, making it accessible to moderate-sized telescopes under good conditions.[4][3]
Common themes from multiple outlets
- No imminent impact risk: Most analyses concluded there was no credible impact risk from 2026 JH2 during this pass.[3][1]
- Public interest and misinfo risk: With such close approaches, a surge of YouTube videos and sensational coverage appeared; experts emphasized relying on official orbit data from JPL/MAST and astronomical alerts.[7][4]
How observers can verify
- Official assessments come from NASA JPL's Small-Body Database and the Minor Planet Center, which provide updated trajectory plots, miss distances, and uncertainty codes after each new set of observations.[2][1]
- Amateur observers could potentially spot it around magnitude 11–12 with modest backyard equipment in suitable skies, depending on local conditions.[3]
Would you like a concise table of the key parameters (close approach date, distance, size, uncertainty) or a short guide on how to observe 2026 JH2 from Buffalo, NY? I can also pull the latest official trajectory figures if you want.