Near-Earth Object
2026 DY
NASA ID: 54603178
2026 DY will pass Earth on 18 August 2026 at a distance of 42.86 lunar distances (LD) - about 16,474,859 km - travelling at 25,768 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 11 and 25 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.
Close Approach Date
18 August 2026
In 59 days
Miss Distance
42.86 LD
16,474,859 km
43 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
25,768 km/h
0.9 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
11–25 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 26.88
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Not Hazardous
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 2026 DY 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 DY to Earth between 1947 and 2029, 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 →
