Asteroid 2026 HZ4 flew past Earth at 0.08 LD on April 24, 2026

Asteroid 2026 HZ4 flew past Earth at a close distance of 0.08 lunar distances (LD) / 0.00020 astronomical units (AU), corresponding to approximately 29 700 km (18 450 miles) from Earth’s center, at 12:13 UTC on April 24, 2026.

Based on its absolute magnitude (H) of 29.743, 2026 HZ4 is estimated to be between 4–9 m (13–30 feet) in diameter. The asteroid passed Earth at a relative velocity of 13.27 km/s.

2026 HZ4 belongs to the Apollo class of near-Earth asteroids, characterized by Earth-crossing orbits with semi-major axes larger than Earth’s. Its orbit exhibits a significant eccentricity of 0.526 and a semi-major axis of 2 AU. The asteroid’s perihelion distance is 0.951 AU, and the inclination to the ecliptic is 13.4 degrees, indicating a moderately inclined orbit relative to Earth’s.

No direct measurements of albedo are available, and the object is not classified as potentially hazardous (PHA).

2026 HZ4 was observed from April 23 to April 24, 2026, giving it a 1-day observation arc. The orbit solution has a condition code of 8, signaling that its current trajectory is considered uncertain or preliminary and may change with future observations.

Several additional small near-Earth asteroids recently passed within 1 lunar distance of Earth. On April 23, 2026, asteroid 2026 HZ2 passed at 0.22 LD; on April 21, 2026, asteroid 2026 HB3 flew by at 0.24 LD. Other recent close approaches include 2026 HF2 (0.30 LD on April 21), 2026 HJ (0.30 LD on April 19), and 2013 GM3 (0.02 LD on April 14, 2026). Most of these objects are estimated to be less than 10 m (33 feet) in size.