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Newly discovered massive asteroid whizzes past Earth in unusually close flyby
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA newly-discovered asteroid, 2026 JH2, made an unusually close pass of Earth on Monday evening, May 18, at 10pm BST (5pm EDT). Discovered last week by astronomers in Arizona, the asteroid came within 91,000 kilometers (57,000 miles) of Earth, which is less than a quarter of the distance to the Moon and closer than some satellites. Measuring up to 35 meters (115 feet) across, the asteroid is larger than a blue whale and comparable in size to the Chelyabinsk meteor that exploded over Russia in 2013. Astronomers confirm that Asteroid 2026 JH2 poses no risk to Earth or the Moon, but its proximity would allow for observation with telescopes and binoculars. The Virtual Telescope Project broadcast a live stream of the flyby which started at 8:45pm BST on Monday, and the asteroid is not expected to pass by Earth again until 2060. In fullAsteroid the size of a blue whale to skim past Earth today – and you can see itThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
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wired.com
Asteroid 2026 JH2 Is About to Fly Right Past Earth—Relatively Speaking
On May 18, an asteroid about the size of Chicago’s Cloud Gate will fly four times closer to Earth than the moon.
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space.com
Watch an asteroid the size of a blue whale hurtle towards Earth live online TODAY
The livestream will begin at 3:45 p.m. EDT on May 18, bringing near real time views of the asteroid from robotic telescopes in Italy, weather permitting.
