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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Primary Data: NASA JPL SBDB / CNEOS
Classification: Apollo Near-Earth Object (NEO) SPK-ID: 54613601
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. |