Asteroid 2026 JH2 to make safe close Earth pass May 18

A newly discovered asteroid will make an exceptionally close, but safe, pass by Earth on Monday, May 18. The object, designated 2026 JH2, is expected to come within approximately 56,000 to 57,000 miles of the planet, which is about one-quarter of the average distance to the moon.

The asteroid was discovered on May 10 by astronomers with the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona, with follow-up observations from other facilities, including the Farpoint Observatory in Kansas. It has since been added to the Minor Planet Center’s database. Based on its brightness, scientists estimate its size to be between 15 and 35 meters (approximately 50 to 115 feet) in diameter, comparable to the object that caused the Chelyabinsk airburst over Russia in 2013.

Officials stress there is no risk of impact. Current orbital calculations confirm the asteroid will safely miss Earth. It is classified as an Apollo-class near-Earth object, meaning its orbit around the sun intersects with Earth's. The asteroid follows a highly elliptical, 3.8-year orbit that takes it from near Earth’s vicinity out toward the orbit of Jupiter.

Despite the proximity, the asteroid will not be visible to the naked eye. At its peak...