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Saturday, 16 May 2026

NEO/PHA Asteroid 5 Closest Approaches to Earth— 16–22 May 2026 Latest PHA and NEO News by Astrophyzix Digital Observatory

Top 5 Closest NEO Approaches — 16–22 May 2026 

NASA SBDB Data · Astrophyzix Scientific Close Approach Report

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NEO Close Approaches May 2026 Interval SBDB‑Aligned

Key Takeaways

  • Closest pass: (2012 HM) at 30.86 LD (~0.079 AU), a modest ~65 m Apollo NEO.
  • Most hazardous objects: (2011 YE6) and 374038 (2004 HW), both PHAs with high ARI scores.
  • Largest body: 374038 (2004 HW), a kilometre‑class Apollo PHA (~1.56 km average diameter).
  • Amor representation: 2020 KP1 and its numbered counterpart 679756 (2020 KP1).
  • Risk context: All encounters in this interval are dynamically routine and non‑threatening.

Scientific consensus snapshot (interval overview)

ParameterStatus
Closest approach(2012 HM) at 0.079303 AU
Largest object374038 (2004 HW) — ~1.56 km
PHA count2 of 5 objects (YE6, 2004 HW)
Highest ARI score49 — 374038 (2004 HW)
Hazard levelNo immediate threats; all passes are distant

Close‑approach overview (Top 5 NEOs)

Rank Object Class PHA ARI Approach date Miss (LD) Miss (km) Miss (AU) Velocity (km/s) Diameter (avg, m)
1(2012 HM)APONo112026‑05‑1830.862411,863,4960.0793035.12464.80
2(2011 YE6)APOYes462026‑05‑2235.157113,514,3730.09033819.743285.46
3374038 (2004 HW)APOYes492026‑05‑2144.263717,014,9810.11373813.6941,561.50
4(2020 KP1)AMONo172026‑05‑1646.912318,033,0690.12054416.792103.17
5679756 (2020 KP1)AMONo172026‑05‑1646.912218,033,0590.12054416.792101.75

1. Asteroid (2012 HM)

Closest approach of the interval — sub‑0.08 AU Apollo NEO

Encounter geometry

ParameterValue
Approach date2026‑05‑18
Miss distance30.8624 LD — 11,863,496 km — 0.079303 AU
Relative velocity5.124 km/s
Orbit classApollo (APO)
Orbital period465.38 d

Physical characteristics

ParameterValue
Diameter range40.05 – 89.54 m
Diameter (avg)64.80 m
Absolute magnitude (H)24.11
PHA classificationNo
ARI score11

(2012 HM) is the closest‑approaching object in this interval, passing at just under 0.08 AU. With an average diameter of ~65 m, it sits in the Chelyabinsk–to–Tunguska energy regime, but its orbit does not qualify it as a PHA.

OFFICIAL DATA SOURCE JPL SBDB: https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3602622

2. Asteroid (2011 YE6)

Mid‑sized PHA with regional‑impact potential

Encounter geometry

ParameterValue
Approach date2026‑05‑22
Miss distance35.1571 LD — 13,514,373 km — 0.090338 AU
Relative velocity19.743 km/s
Orbit classApollo (APO)
Orbital period1,724.61 d

Physical characteristics

ParameterValue
Diameter range176.42 – 394.49 m
Diameter (avg)285.46 m
Absolute magnitude (H)20.89
PHA classificationYes
ARI score46

(2011 YE6) is the most hazardous object in this subset by a combination of size and orbital classification. With an average diameter near 300 m, it is firmly in the regional‑impact energy class.

OFFICIAL DATA SOURCE JPL SBDB: https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3591595

3. Asteroid 374038 (2004 HW)

Kilometre‑class PHA — largest body in this close‑approach set

Encounter geometry

ParameterValue
Approach date2026‑05‑21
Miss distance44.2637 LD — 17,014,981 km — 0.113738 AU
Relative velocity13.694 km/s
Orbit classApollo (APO)
Orbital period1,611.39 d

Physical characteristics

ParameterValue
Diameter range965.06 – 2,157.94 m
Diameter (avg)1,561.50 m
Absolute magnitude (H)17.2
PHA classificationYes
ARI score49

374038 (2004 HW) dominates the energy budget by sheer size. Its PHA status and very high ARI score mark it as a dynamically important NEO.

OFFICIAL DATA SOURCE JPL SBDB: https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2374038

4. Asteroid (2020 KP1)

Mid‑sized Amor NEO — non‑crossing, city‑scale energy regime

Encounter geometry

ParameterValue
Approach date2026‑05‑16
Miss distance46.9123 LD — 18,033,069 km — 0.120544 AU
Relative velocity16.792 km/s
Orbit classAmor (AMO)
Orbital period729.98 d

Physical characteristics

ParameterValue
Diameter range63.76 – 142.57 m
Diameter (avg)103.17 m
Absolute magnitude (H)23.10
PHA classificationNo
ARI score17

(2020 KP1) is a mid‑sized Amor‑class asteroid, with an average diameter of ~100 m. As an Amor, it does not currently cross Earth’s orbit.

OFFICIAL DATA SOURCE JPL SBDB: https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=54017120

5. Asteroid 679756 (2020 KP1)

Numbered solution of the same physical object as 2020 KP1

Encounter geometry

ParameterValue
Approach date2026‑05‑16
Miss distance46.9122 LD — 18,033,059 km — 0.120544 AU
Relative velocity16.792 km/s
Orbit classAmor (AMO)
Orbital period730.21 d

Physical characteristics

ParameterValue
Diameter range62.89 – 140.62 m
Diameter (

Interpretation of the 16-22 May 2026 Close‑Approach Data and Frequency Asked Questions/Answers 

The five Near‑Earth Objects in this interval represent a typical but scientifically valuable cross‑section of the NEO population: small to kilometre‑scale bodies, a mix of Apollo and Amor classes, and a range of encounter geometries. None pose any threat to Earth, but each contributes differently to our understanding of NEO dynamics, survey completeness, and long‑term hazard assessment.

1. What do the close‑approach distances tell us? 

All five objects pass Earth at distances between 30 and 47 Lunar Distances (LD), equivalent to 12–18 million km. These are distant encounters in planetary‑defence terms. For context, the Moon orbits at 1 LD, and even objects passing within 10 LD are considered “close” only in an astronomical sense.

The closest object in this interval, (2012 HM), still remains nearly 0.08 AU away — far outside any gravitational keyhole or impact corridor. These distances confirm that the May 2026 window is observationally interesting but dynamically safe.

2. What do the velocities imply? 

Encounter velocities range from 5.1 km/s to 19.7 km/s. Lower velocities (e.g., 2012 HM) indicate shallow, low‑energy Earth‑crossing geometries typical of many Apollo NEOs. Higher velocities (e.g., 2011 YE6) reflect steeper orbital intersections and higher relative kinetic energy.

Velocity matters because it affects:

  • how long the object remains in Earth’s vicinity,
  • how strongly Earth’s gravity perturbs its orbit,
  • the potential impact energy in a hypothetical collision.

In this dataset, none of the velocities are unusual or dynamically concerning.

3. What do the sizes and H‑magnitudes indicate? 

The objects span a wide size range:

  • Small (~60 m): (2012 HM)
  • Medium (~100 m): 2020 KP1 / 679756
  • Large (~300 m): (2011 YE6)
  • Kilometre‑class (~1.6 km): 374038 (2004 HW)

Size is inferred from absolute magnitude H and assumed albedo. Larger objects carry exponentially greater impact energy, which is why 2011 YE6 and 2004 HW are classified as PHAs even though their 2026 encounters are distant.

4. Why are some objects are PHAs? 

Two objects — (2011 YE6) and 374038 (2004 HW) — meet NASA’s criteria for Potentially Hazardous Asteroids:

  • Earth MOID < 0.05 AU
  • H ≤ 22 (roughly ≥ 140 m diameter)

PHA status does not mean an object is on an impact trajectory. It simply means the object is large enough and passes close enough to Earth’s orbit that it warrants long‑term monitoring. Both PHAs in this interval have comfortable 2026 miss distances and well‑constrained orbits.

5. What does the ARI scores represent? 

The Asteroid Risk Index (ARI) is a long‑term dynamical interest metric. It is not an impact probability. High ARI values reflect:

  • larger size,
  • closer orbital proximity to Earth,
  • greater long‑term monitoring value.

The highest ARI in this set is 49 for 374038 (2004 HW), consistent with its kilometre‑scale size and Earth‑crossing orbit.

6. Why are there two entries for 2020 KP1? 

The objects labelled (2020 KP1) and 679756 (2020 KP1) are the same physical asteroid. One is the provisional designation; the other is the numbered solution. Both appear because they have separate SBDB entries, but their physical and dynamical parameters are nearly identical.

7. Astrophyzix interpretation of the interval

The 16-22 May 2026 close‑approach window is a scientifically rich but dynamically quiet period. It includes a mix of small, medium, and large NEOs — two of which are PHAs — yet all passes occur at safe distances far outside the Earth–Moon system. These encounters provide valuable opportunities for follow‑up observations, orbit refinement, and statistical modelling, but none represent any form of near‑term hazard.


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