Next week, on May 18, 2026, the house-sized asteroid 2026 JH2 will approach Earth at about 90,000 kilometers away, equivalent to a quarter of the lunar distance. Recently discovered by five US observatories, its diameter is estimated between 16 and 30 meters. NASA confirms that there is no risk of collision and it will be visible with amateur telescopes.
Early detection of 2026 JH2 and its Apollo orbit 🚀
Asteroid 2026 JH2 belongs to the Apollo group, with an orbit that crosses Earth's and extends to Jupiter. Its discovery was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Farpoint and Mount Lemmon observatories, among others. Astronomers refine its trajectory using brightness and reflectivity data, which allows calculating its size between 16 and 30 meters. Although it passes very close, current models rule out any impact, demonstrating the effectiveness of space surveillance systems.
Space flyby: the asteroid that visits us unannounced 🌠
And while humanity worries about highway traffic, it turns out we have a 30-meter rocky neighbor passing by at 90,000 kilometers. The best part is that we discovered it just a few days ago, like a distant relative showing up unannounced. But don't be alarmed: NASA says it won't collide. However, if anyone has a telescope, they can say hello. Or ask it to come back another day, with more patience.