Close approach

Great white shark-sized asteroid 2026 VC11

0.3 LD · ~4 m

0.3 LD
from Earth — inside the Moon's orbit
118,532 km
distance from Earth’s center
2–8 m
estimated diameter
Great white shark
roughly the size of
2026 VC11 · ~4 mGreat white shark · 4.6 m long
1 m

Drawn to scale.

Silhouette: Margot Michaud, PhyloPic (CC0)

2026 VC11 passes inside the Moon's orbit, about 118,532 km from Earth's centre (0.3× the distance to the Moon). It is 2–8 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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