Huge asteroid will skim past Earth TONIGHT - here's how you can watch

"Astronomers say the space rock, called 2026 JH2, is up to four times the size of a London bus and will get 'as close as you can without hitting'. It is expected to zoom by our planet at an estimated distance of around 56,000 miles (90,000km) at 10:23pm BST. This is exceptionally close - the equivalent of just a quarter of the distance between us and the moon."

"Estimates place the size of the space rock between 52 and 115ft (16 and 35 metres) in diameter, and it is racing towards Earth at around 20,000mph (32,000 kmph). Despite having enough mass to wipe out a city, simulations suggest there is no chance of impact for at least the next 100 years."

"While it will be too faint to see with the naked eye, it may be visible through amateur telescopes under dark sky conditions. But for those without access to stargazing equipment, you can still watch the unusually close encounter. Astronomers in Italy will be sharing a livestream of the flyby, recorded through a telescope, on The Virtual Telescope Project's YouTube channel. The broadcast will start at 8:45pm BST."

"People in the UK will have the best chance of spotting asteroid 2026 JH2 from dark-sky locations with a clear northern horizon. Around closest approach, it should be moving through the region of Ursa Major, fairly high in the sky. Binoculars probably won't be good enough unless they are very large. However, it should be visible with small telescopes. It will look like a faint moving dot, rather than a dramatic streak."

Asteroid 2026 JH2 will skim past Earth this evening at an estimated distance of around 56,000 miles (90,000 km) at 10:23 pm BST. The object is estimated to be 52 to 115 ft (16 to 35 m) in diameter and is traveling at about 20,000 mph (32,000 km/h). Simulations indicate no chance of impact for at least the next 100 years despite its mass. The asteroid will be too faint to see with the naked eye, but it may be visible through amateur telescopes under dark skies. A livestream of the flyby will be shared by astronomers in Italy starting at 8:45 pm BST, and UK observers from dark-sky locations with a clear northern horizon may have the best chance. It will move through Ursa Major as a faint moving dot.

Read at Mail Online