Asteroid (2026 HZ3) — 2026 NASA-Linked Preliminary Scientific Status Report
NASA JPL SBDB Solution 5 (2026-Apr-28 06:20:37)
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Classification: Apollo Near-Earth Object (NEO) SPK-ID: 54613601
Asteroid 2026 HZ3 Key Takeaways
- Newly discovered NEO: (2026 HZ3) is a recently observed Apollo-class near-Earth asteroid with a short data-arc (4 days) and a relatively high orbital uncertainty (condition code 7).
- Small object: With an absolute magnitude H ≈ 25.3, (2026 HZ3) is likely a small asteroid, on the order of a few tens of metres in diameter, depending on its surface reflectivity.
- Close approach in 2026: A nominal close approach to Earth occurs on 1 May 2026 at a distance of about 0.010 au (around 1.5 million km), well outside any impact scenario under current solutions.
- Earth MOID: The current Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) with Earth is about 0.00497 au (~745,000 km), indicating close-approach potential but not an imminent threat.
- Preliminary orbit: Because the orbit is based on only 38 observations over 4 days, all risk and trajectory assessments are considered preliminary and will be refined as more data are collected.
Scientific consensus snapshot (preliminary)
| Parameter | Status (NASA JPL SBDB Solution 5 | 2026-Apr-28 06:20:37) |
|---|---|
| Impact risk (100-year context) | No confirmed impact solution; orbit still under refinement (condition code 7). |
| Orbital uncertainty | Moderate–high (short 4-day data-arc, condition code 7). |
| 2026 close approach | Nominal miss distance ~0.010 au (~1.5 million km) — a safe flyby under current solutions. |
| Hazard classification | NEO (Apollo). Not formally classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) at this time. |
| Scientific priority | Monitoring and orbit refinement; representative of small NEOs that frequently pass near Earth. |
Object overview and physical characteristics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Provisional designation | (2026 HZ3) |
| Classification | Apollo-type Near-Earth Object (NEO) |
| SPK-ID | 54613601 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 25.263 ± 0.47 |
| Estimated diameter | On the order of a few tens of metres (exact size depends on albedo; not yet directly measured). |
| Rotation period | Not yet determined. |
| Taxonomic type | Unknown (no spectral classification available yet). |
Size estimates for small NEOs with only an H value are approximate and depend strongly on assumed surface reflectivity (albedo). Until direct observations or thermal measurements are available, (2026 HZ3)’s size should be treated as an order-of-magnitude estimate only.
Orbital parameters (JPL solution 5)
| Orbital element | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Epoch | 2461000.5 TDB (2025-Nov-21.0) | Osculating elements at this reference epoch. |
| Semi-major axis (a) | 1.398585 au | Heliocentric orbit larger than Earth’s; Apollo-class. |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.295541 | Moderately eccentric orbit. |
| Perihelion distance (q) | 0.985245 au | Passes just inside Earth’s orbital distance at perihelion. |
| Aphelion distance (Q) | 1.811925 au | Extends beyond Earth’s orbit at aphelion. |
| Inclination (i) | 12.118° | Moderate tilt relative to the ecliptic plane. |
| Longitude of ascending node (Ω) | 40.315° | Orientation of the orbit where it crosses the ecliptic northward. |
| Argument of perihelion (ω) | 202.988° | Location of perihelion within the orbital plane. |
| Mean anomaly (M) | 251.620° | Position along the orbit at the epoch. |
| Orbital period | 604.13 days (~1.65 years) | Time to complete one orbit around the Sun. |
| Mean motion (n) | 0.5959°/day | Average angular speed along the orbit. |
Solution quality and observational context
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Solution date | 2026-Apr-28 06:20:37 (JPL solution 5) |
| Number of observations used | 38 |
| Data-arc span | 4 days (2026-04-24 to 2026-04-28) |
| Planetary ephemeris | DE441 |
| Small-body perturbation model | SB441-N16 |
| Condition code | 7 (0 = well-determined, 9 = highly uncertain) |
| Normalized residual RMS | 0.3801 |
| Orbit producer | JPL (Otto Matic) |
A condition code of 7 and a 4-day data-arc indicate that the orbit of (2026 HZ3) is still being refined. Future observations may adjust its trajectory, close-approach distances, and long-term risk assessment.
Earth and Jupiter MOID
| Parameter | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Earth MOID | 0.00497026 au | Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with Earth is ~0.005 au (~745,000 km), indicating that the orbit can pass relatively close to Earth’s orbit but does not imply an impact. |
| Jupiter MOID | 3.20575 au | Far from Jupiter’s orbit; Jupiter does not strongly perturb (2026 HZ3) on current timescales. |
| Tisserand parameter w.r.t. Jupiter (TJup) | 4.689 | Consistent with an asteroidal, not cometary, orbit. |
2026 close approach to Earth
The current JPL solution includes a close approach of (2026 HZ3) to Earth in early May 2026. Because the orbit is still being refined, all values below should be treated as nominal and subject to change as additional observations are incorporated.
| Parameter | Nominal value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Close-approach date/time (TDB) | 2026-May-01 23:56 (± < 1 minute) | Nominal epoch of closest approach to Earth. |
| Nominal distance | 0.01013 au | Approximately 1.5 million km; well outside Earth’s atmosphere and gravitational capture region. |
| Minimum distance (1σ) | 0.01010 au | Lower bound of the close-approach distance within current uncertainties. |
| Maximum distance (1σ) | 0.01015 au | Upper bound of the close-approach distance within current uncertainties. |
| Relative velocity | ~8.42 km/s | Speed relative to Earth at closest approach. |
| V-infinity | ~8.39 km/s | Hyperbolic excess speed; relevant for mission design and impact-energy estimates. |
Even at the nominal 2026 close approach, (2026 HZ3) remains far beyond the distance of the Moon (~0.0026 au). No impact is indicated by the current solution.
Risk context and monitoring
- Impact monitoring: Objects like (2026 HZ3) are routinely tracked by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) using systems such as Sentry for long-term impact probability assessment.
- Short-arc caveat: With only a few days of observations, early orbital solutions can shift significantly as new data arrive. This is normal for newly discovered NEOs.
- Follow-up observations: Additional optical and, if feasible, radar observations will reduce the condition code, refine the MOID, and improve predictions for future close approaches.
- Population context: (2026 HZ3) is representative of the many small NEOs that pass near Earth each year, most of which pose no impact threat but are important for understanding the small-body population.
Summary
(2026 HZ3) is a newly discovered Apollo-class near-Earth asteroid with a moderately eccentric, inclined orbit that crosses Earth’s path. Current JPL solution 5, based on 38 observations over a 4-day arc, indicates a safe close approach to Earth in early May 2026 at a distance of about 0.010 au (~1.5 million km).
With an absolute magnitude of H ≈ 25.3, (2026 HZ3) is likely a small object, on the order of a few tens of metres in size. Its orbit is still being refined (condition code 7), and future observations will sharpen our understanding of its trajectory, long-term evolution, and any potential for closer approaches in the future. At present, no impact scenario is indicated by the available data.
Sources and further reading
- NASA JPL Small-Body Database (SBDB) — (2026 HZ3) orbital elements, solution 5.
- NASA CNEOS — Near-Earth Object basics, impact monitoring, and close-approach tables.
- NASA Sentry — Earth impact monitoring system for NEOs.
- Image Credit: Courtesy of NASA JPL SBDB
- Astrophyzix Live PHA Monitoring System
- Astrophyzix real-time Orbital Monitoring System
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