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Near-Earth Object

2026 LZ1

NASA ID: 54638041

Safe

2026 LZ1 will pass Earth on 14 December 2026 at a distance of 14.36 lunar distances (LD) - about 5,519,761 km - travelling at 40,150 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 27 and 60 metres, roughly the size of a football pitch (around 105 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.

Close Approach Date

14 December 2026

In 132 days

Miss Distance

14.36 LD

5,519,761 km

Moon PHA limit

14 times the Moon's distance from Earth

Velocity

40,150 km/h

ISS

1.5 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station

Est. Diameter

27–60 m

Absolute Magnitude

H = 24.995

The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size

Hazard Classification

Not Hazardous

The real orbit in 3D

The actual path of 2026 LZ1 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 LZ1 to Earth between 1911 and 2094, 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.

1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 2050 2075 2100 1 LDMoon's orbit 10 LD today 15 Jun 1911 - 19.35 LD14 Dec 1911 - 14.54 LD15 Jun 1934 - 24.15 LD14 Dec 1934 - 16.13 LD12 Jun 1956 - 25.04 LD14 Jun 1979 - 8.18 LD14 Dec 1979 - 26.18 LD15 Dec 2003 - 32.96 LD15 Jun 2026 - 19.63 LD14 Dec 2026 - 14.36 LD (this approach)16 Jun 2049 - 32.4 LD14 Dec 2049 - 20.77 LD14 Jun 2071 - 14.18 LD14 Dec 2071 - 32.69 LD13 Jun 2094 - 22.52 LD Close approach date Miss distance (LD, log scale)

Size Comparison

Asteroid 27–60 m Football pitch 105 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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