Asteroid 2026 HJ will fly past Earth at 0.3 LD on April 19, 2026

Asteroid 2026 HJ will fly past Earth at a minimum distance of 0.3 lunar distances (LD) or 0.00076 astronomical units (AU), equivalent to approximately 113 600 km (70 600 miles) from the planet’s center at 19:13 UTC on April 19, 2026. The object’s relative velocity at closest approach is calculated at 6.48 km/s.

Based on its absolute magnitude (H) of 30.2, asteroid 2026 HJ is estimated to be between 4 and 9 m (13–30 feet) in diameter, depending on its assumed albedo.

Asteroid 2026 HJ belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids. Orbital parameters include an eccentricity (e) of 0.2, a semi-major axis (a) of 1.15 AU, and a perihelion distance (q) of 0.919 AU. Its orbital inclination is 3.36°, which is relatively low among near-Earth objects. The asteroid completes an orbit every 450 days.

No specific physical parameters such as albedo are available, but with an absolute magnitude of 30.2 and small estimated size, it is not classified as potentially hazardous.

2026 HJ was first observed on April 16, 2026, and last observed on April 17, 2026, providing an observational arc of 1 day. Its orbit solution is considered preliminary, with a condition code of 6, indicating a significant degree of uncertainty that may decrease with further observations.

Other recent close approaches within 1 lunar distance include asteroid 2013 GM3, which passed at 0.02 LD (3 000 km / 1 900 miles) on April 14, 2026, and likely measured between 16 and 35 m (52–115 feet). Asteroid 2026 GD also made a close approach at 0.65 LD (99 800 km / 62 000 miles) on April 9, 2026, with an estimated size of 12–27 m (39–89 feet). Further such encounters were observed in March and April 2026.