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Near-Earth Object

2026 HJ3

NASA ID: 54609803

Safe

2026 HJ3 will pass Earth on 1 May 2027 at a distance of 30.08 lunar distances (LD) - about 11,563,883 km - travelling at 23,502 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 19 and 42 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.

Close Approach Date

1 May 2027

In 315 days

Miss Distance

30.08 LD

11,563,883 km

Moon PHA limit

30 times the Moon's distance from Earth

Velocity

23,502 km/h

ISS

0.9 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station

Est. Diameter

19–42 m

Absolute Magnitude

H = 25.73

The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size

Hazard Classification

Not Hazardous

The real orbit in 3D

The actual path of 2026 HJ3 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 HJ3 to Earth between 1941 and 2034, 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.

1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 1 LDMoon's orbit 10 LD today 26 Apr 1941 - 22.58 LD28 Apr 1942 - 17.14 LD26 Apr 2025 - 24.18 LD27 Apr 2026 - 16.17 LD1 May 2027 - 30.08 LD (this approach)28 Oct 2033 - 36.69 LD18 Oct 2034 - 36.54 LD Close approach date Miss distance (LD, log scale)

Size Comparison

Asteroid 19–42 m Double-decker bus 11 m long

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 →

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