Near-Earth Object
2026 BT
NASA ID: 54576634
2026 BT will pass Earth on 17 January 2027 at a distance of 37.1 lunar distances (LD) - about 14,259,689 km - travelling at 15,399 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 5 and 11 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.
Close Approach Date
17 January 2027
In 211 days
Miss Distance
37.1 LD
14,259,689 km
37 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
15,399 km/h
0.6 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
5–11 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 28.65
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Not Hazardous
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 2026 BT around the Sun, computed from JPL orbital elements. Drag to rotate, scroll to zoom, and use the time controls to run the orbit forwards or back.
Every recorded pass
Each dot is one close approach of 2026 BT to Earth between 1938 and 2090, from JPL's records. Lower means closer: a dot under the dashed line passed nearer than the Moon. The orange dot is the approach on this page.
Size Comparison
Reading the Numbers
- A lunar distance (LD) is the average gap between Earth and the Moon, about 384,400 km. It is the standard yardstick for close approaches. Read more →
- Diameter estimates come from brightness. A dark surface reflects less light than a bright one, so the true size can sit anywhere in the quoted range. Read more →
- Potentially hazardous is a watch-list label based on size and orbital proximity. It does not mean an impact is expected. Read more →
