Asteroid 2026 JH2 flew close to Earth on May 18th.

Discovering a large asteroid the size of a blue whale, which will fly closer to Earth than a satellite on May 18th, offers an opportunity to observe it through telescopes.

Scientists say a giant asteroid, never before seen, is hurtling towards Earth at a speed of approximately 32,000 km/h. While it poses no risk of collision with Earth, it will fly closer to our planet than some of our moons on May 18th. This asteroid is named 2026 JH2.

According to data from NASA/JPL and international astronomical observatories, asteroid 2026 JH2 was first discovered on May 10th by the Mt. Lemmon Survey project in Arizona, USA. It belongs to the group of near-Earth objects (NEOs), orbiting the Sun in an elliptical orbit with a period of approximately 3.7 years.

Scientists estimate that 2026 JH2 will have a diameter of approximately 15-35 meters, roughly the size of a blue whale. Current expert calculations suggest that at around 6 PM EDT on May 18th (5 AM on May 19th in Vietnam time), 2026 JH2 will fly past Earth at a distance of approximately 91,000 km from the planet's surface. This distance is equivalent to about one-quarter the distance from Earth to the Moon.

2026 JH2 will fly past Earth at a distance of approximately 91,000 km from the planet's surface on May 18th. Photo: JUAN GARTNER via Getty Images.

Asteroid 2026 JH2 is traveling at a speed of approximately 32,000 km/h but poses no risk of collision with Earth. Astronomers say its orbit has been determined with sufficient precision to rule out the possibility of crashing into the blue planet during this close approach.

At its closest distance, 2026 JH2 will be outside of geostationary orbit, but still closer to Earth than some spacecraft operating in far orbits, satellites, or telescopes, including the TESS space telescope.

With an apparent magnitude of approximately 11.5, asteroid 2026 JH2 can be observed with small telescopes under favorable weather conditions. Astronomy enthusiasts around the world can follow 2026 JH2's close approach to Earth online through a broadcast by the Virtual Telescope Project in Italy.

Experts say that asteroids with diameters of several tens of meters flying close to Earth, like 2026 JH2, are not very common, although every year many smaller objects enter the planet's atmosphere and explode in the sky, creating "fireballs".

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/tieu-hanh-tinh-2026-jh2-bay-sat-trai-dat-ngay-185-post2149100599.html