Next week, asteroid 2026JH2, with a size comparable to a building between 16 and 36 meters, will perform a close flyby at 90,917 kilometers from our planet. Although it does not pose a collision threat, its trajectory offers a unique opportunity for technical modeling. From Foro3D, we propose a detailed simulation of its passage to visualize the potential risk and compare it with historical events such as the Chelyabinsk meteor.
Trajectory modeling and potential impact visualization 🚀
To recreate the event, we will start from the orbital data of 2026JH2, detected by observatories in Arizona and Kansas. The 3D model should include a reference sphere of 36 meters in diameter, textured with low-reflectance rocky materials to simulate its darkness. The main animation will show its closest approach on May 18 at 21:38 UTC, tracing a curved trajectory that passes at a quarter of the lunar distance. We will include a terrestrial reference plane illuminated from the northern hemisphere, where it will be briefly visible. Additionally, we will generate a secondary scene replicating the 2013 Chelyabinsk impact, with an airburst of 500 kilotons and a devastation zone of 30 km radius, scaling the reference building to compare the asteroid's size.
The challenge of visualizing the invisible 🌍
The technical difficulty of this project lies in representing objects that barely reflect light and move at satellite speeds. Our simulation must not only be accurate in distances and times but also effective in communicating the latent danger. By modeling the potential devastation zone, we remember that asteroids of this size are difficult to detect, but thanks to 3D tools we can make their threat tangible, educating the public about the importance of astronomical surveillance.
What variables would you consider to model this disaster? 💥