How Did We Miss the Asteroid That Will Narrowly Miss Us?
An asteroid the size of a blue whale will pass within 56,500 miles of Earth this evening. Humanity only became aware of this asteroid, named 2026 JH2, about a week ago due to compromised radar capabilities. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in detecting near-Earth objects despite advancements in astronomical technology.
- ▪The asteroid 2026 JH2 will pass close to Earth, approximately 24 percent of the average Earth-moon distance.
- ▪Astronomers were unaware of the asteroid's existence until just a week prior to its close approach.
- ▪Current radar capabilities are limited due to the collapse of the Arecibo telescope and repairs on NASA's Goldstone antenna.
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