A Close Encounter with a Space Rock
There's an asteroid out there that's about to give Earth a closer shave than our moon. This space rock, named 2026 JH2, is roughly 62 feet wide and will pass within 57,000 miles of our planet, which is a lot closer than the moon's average distance of 238,855 miles.
Despite its relatively close approach, the asteroid is not expected to pose any danger to Earth.
A Surprise Discovery
This asteroid was only recently spotted on May 10 by a group of astronomers based in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona. It's unusual for an object of this size to fly so close to Earth, but it's not unheard of.
Best Time to Spot the Asteroid
The asteroid is set to reach its nearest point to Earth around 6 p.m. ET. At this time, the asteroid should reach its maximum brightness, making it potentially visible to hobby astronomers with small telescopes.
Online Viewing Opportunity
For those without telescopes, an Italian astronomical observatory is offering a live online stream of the asteroid's flyby.
A Regular Occurrence in Space
Although this asteroid's close approach might sound alarming, it's worth noting that smaller asteroids frequently zip past our planet without any fanfare. Some even make a grand entrance into Earth's atmosphere, lighting up the sky as bright fireballs.
The Chelyabinsk Meteor: A Past Intruder
The Chelyabinsk meteor, which exploded over Russia in 2013, is a prime example of such an event. This meteor, which was slightly smaller than the approaching asteroid, caused significant damage to its surrounding areas when it exploded in the atmosphere. The explosion packed 30 times more punch than the atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima, according to estimates.
Monitoring the Skies
Astronomers are constantly watching the skies for asteroids and comets that could potentially come close to Earth. This is done using a network of telescopes stationed both on the ground and in space. A program dedicated to identifying these near-Earth objects is tasked with finding potentially hazardous asteroids and studying their orbits to assess the level of threat they pose.
A Bigger Threat Looming
While the 2026 JH2 asteroid is making headlines now, astronomers are more concerned about a much larger asteroid, called Apophis. This 1,200-foot-wide space rock is projected to come within a hair-raising 20,000 miles of Earth in a few years' time.
A probe is scheduled to meet with Apophis in June 2029 to study how its close flyby of Earth will influence its orbit and physical properties. However, the future of this mission hangs in the balance due to proposed budget cuts.
If these cuts are approved, the probe's mission - along with more than 50 other missions - could be terminated before it has a chance to rendezvous with the asteroid.
There's an asteroid out there that's about to give Earth a closer shave than our moon. This space rock, named 2026 JH2, is roughly 62 feet wide and will pass within 57,000 miles of our planet, which is a lot closer than the moon's average distance of 238,855 miles.
Despite its relatively close approach, the asteroid is not expected to pose any danger to Earth.
A Surprise Discovery
This asteroid was only recently spotted on May 10 by a group of astronomers based in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona. It's unusual for an object of this size to fly so close to Earth, but it's not unheard of.
Best Time to Spot the Asteroid
The asteroid is set to reach its nearest point to Earth around 6 p.m. ET. At this time, the asteroid should reach its maximum brightness, making it potentially visible to hobby astronomers with small telescopes.
Online Viewing Opportunity
For those without telescopes, an Italian astronomical observatory is offering a live online stream of the asteroid's flyby.
A Regular Occurrence in Space
Although this asteroid's close approach might sound alarming, it's worth noting that smaller asteroids frequently zip past our planet without any fanfare. Some even make a grand entrance into Earth's atmosphere, lighting up the sky as bright fireballs.
The Chelyabinsk Meteor: A Past Intruder
The Chelyabinsk meteor, which exploded over Russia in 2013, is a prime example of such an event. This meteor, which was slightly smaller than the approaching asteroid, caused significant damage to its surrounding areas when it exploded in the atmosphere. The explosion packed 30 times more punch than the atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima, according to estimates.
Monitoring the Skies
Astronomers are constantly watching the skies for asteroids and comets that could potentially come close to Earth. This is done using a network of telescopes stationed both on the ground and in space. A program dedicated to identifying these near-Earth objects is tasked with finding potentially hazardous asteroids and studying their orbits to assess the level of threat they pose.
A Bigger Threat Looming
While the 2026 JH2 asteroid is making headlines now, astronomers are more concerned about a much larger asteroid, called Apophis. This 1,200-foot-wide space rock is projected to come within a hair-raising 20,000 miles of Earth in a few years' time.
A probe is scheduled to meet with Apophis in June 2029 to study how its close flyby of Earth will influence its orbit and physical properties. However, the future of this mission hangs in the balance due to proposed budget cuts.
If these cuts are approved, the probe's mission - along with more than 50 other missions - could be terminated before it has a chance to rendezvous with the asteroid.