Humpback whale-sized asteroid 2026 VU15
0.2 LD · ~16 m
Drawn to scale.
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey, PhyloPic (PDM)
2026 VU15 passes inside the Moon's orbit, about 71,673 km from Earth's centre (0.2× the distance to the Moon). It is 9–29 m across (estimated). If a rock this size hit Earth, the result would be an airburst — an explosion high in the atmosphere that can break windows and cause injuries near the blast, but nothing regionally destructive. Astronomers spot one this size passing inside the Moon's orbit about 12 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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