A large asteroid named "2026 JH2" passed near Earth on May 18 at a record close distance.
According to Oxu.Az, the space object is comparable in size to a blue whale.
The asteroid traveled at a speed of over 31,000 km/h. Astronomers tracked its flight via a live stream.
"2026 JH2" was discovered on May 10, 2026, at the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona. The European Space Agency estimates its diameter between 16 and 35 meters.
The asteroid approached Earth to a distance of about 91,000 km, roughly 24% of the distance between Earth and the Moon. Despite this, scientists stated it posed no threat to Earth or the Moon.
The asteroid's passage was monitored by robotic telescopes in Italy as part of the Virtual Telescope Project.
According to data, "2026 JH2" will now move toward Jupiter's orbit. Its complete orbit around the Sun takes 3.8 years. The next close approach to Earth will occur in 2060.
