Asteroid 2026 HZ2 will fly past Earth at 0.22 LD on April 23, 2026

Asteroid 2026 HZ2 will fly past Earth at a distance of 0.22 lunar distances / 0.00057 AU (32 930 km / 20 470 miles) from the center of our planet at 16:31 UTC on April 23, 2026. The relative velocity at close approach is estimated at 9.59 km/s.

2026 HZ2 has an absolute magnitude (H) of 30.5, which suggests an estimated diameter of approximately 4–9 m (13–30 feet), depending on assumed albedo values.

2026 HZ2 belongs to the Apollo orbital class. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.284 and a semi-major axis of 1.16 AU. The perihelion distance is 0.829 AU, with an inclination of 5.9° relative to the ecliptic plane. These parameters indicate a mildly eccentric, slightly inclined near-Earth orbit.

As for its physical characteristics, 2026 HZ2 is not classified as potentially hazardous. Details on albedo and surface composition are not currently available.

The asteroid was first observed on April 22, 2026 and last observed on April 23, 2026, resulting in a short, 1-day observation arc. Its orbit solution carries a condition code of 6, indicating that its trajectory is still uncertain or preliminary and may be refined with additional observations.

Other recent close approaches within 1 lunar distance include asteroid 2013 GM3, which passed at 0.02 LD (1 165 km / 724 miles) at 16:15 UTC on April 14, 2026, and asteroid 2026 HX1, passing at 0.27 LD (10 100 km / 6 276 miles) at 09:30 UTC on April 16, 2026. These data reflect ongoing detections of small near-Earth objects making close approaches to our planet.