NASA Tracks Asteroid 2026 JA1 Before May 13 Pass

NASA says the asteroid 2026 JA1 will pass Earth on May 13, 2026. The bus-sized object will miss by 973651km, more than twice the distance to the Moon, and scientists are tracking it closely as it moves through the inner solar system.

NASA and 2026 JA1

There is no danger from 2026 JA1, according to NASA. People will not be able to spot it with their eyes because it is too small and dim, though professional telescopes might catch the asteroid’s movement if conditions are right.

NASA keeps tabs on near-Earth objects like JA1 to learn about the solar system’s history and help protect Earth. Objects like this also give astronomers a way to sharpen their tracking skills and learn more about how space rocks move.

May 13, 2026

The close pass gives researchers a chance to study the asteroid without any threat to the planet. Its distance of 973651km places it well beyond the Moon, but still close enough for scientists to follow its path with precision.

For readers looking up on May 13, the practical answer is simple: this asteroid will not be visible to the naked eye, and its approach does not call for any action on the ground. The work stays with the telescopes, where astronomers will use the pass to add another data point to the record of near-Earth objects.