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science13h ago
Watch an asteroid the size of a blue whale hurtle towards Earth live online May 18
- Astronomers report near-Earth asteroid 2026 JH2 will pass Earth May 18 at about 5:23 p.m. and won’t threaten the planet.
- Live coverage via the Virtual Telescope Project will stream on YouTube starting at 3:45 p.m. EDT, weather permitting.
- ESA estimates place 2026 JH2’s size between 16 and 35 meters, roughly the size of an adult blue whale.
- 2026 JH2’s next close approach to Earth occurs in May 2060, after a 3.8-year orbital path around the Sun.
- Space.com confirms the asteroid poses no threat to the Moon or Earth during its flyby.
- The event will be observed from Manciano, Italy, by Virtual Telescope Project's tracking system.
- Space.com notes the discovery of 2026 JH2 was made on May 10 by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona.
- ESA provides brightness-based estimates used by Space.com to size the asteroid.
- Live coverage aims to show the asteroid as a quick moving dot against the starry background.
- The livestream is contingent on weather conditions at the viewing site.
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