Near-Earth Object
2026 LZ1
NASA ID: 54638041
2026 LZ1 will pass Earth on 14 December 2026 at a distance of 14.31 lunar distances (LD) - about 5,499,940 km - travelling at 40,130 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 27 and 61 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 177 days
Miss Distance
14.31 LD
5,499,940 km
14 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
40,130 km/h
1.5 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
27–61 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 24.935
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 1979 and 2026, 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 →
