Newly discovered asteroid will make a close, but safe, encounter with Earth
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Key Points:
- A newly discovered asteroid, designated 2026 JH2, will pass approximately 56,000 miles from Earth on Monday, much closer than the distance to the moon.
- Current calculations indicate no risk of impact, and there is no cause for concern or changes to plans.
- The asteroid, estimated to be 50 to 100 feet in diameter, was identified by astronomers at five observatories, including Farpoint Observatory in Kansas and Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona.
- 2026 JH2 is classified as an Apollo-class near-Earth object, meaning its orbit crosses Earth's orbit but is larger overall.
- The Virtual Telescope Project will provide a live stream of the asteroid's close approach starting at 5:45 p.m. ET on Monday.