Close approach

Orca-sized asteroid 2026 VD11

1.0 LD · ~7 m

1.0 LD
from Earth — inside the Moon's orbit
367,160 km
distance from Earth’s center
4–12 m
estimated diameter
Orca
roughly the size of
2026 VD11 · ~7 mOrca · 7 m long
10 m

Drawn to scale.

Silhouette: Olesja Bogomaz, PhyloPic (CC0)

2026 VD11 passes inside the Moon's orbit, about 367,160 km from Earth's centre (1.0× the distance to the Moon). It is 4–12 m across (estimated). If a rock this size hit Earth, it would burn up as a bright fireball high in the atmosphere; at most, small meteorites reach the ground. Astronomers spot one this size passing inside the Moon's orbit about 100 times a year, and many more pass unseen. This is a routine close approach with no known impact risk.

For the background, read Impact risk in Asteroids.

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