Asteroid 2026 FS5 passed Earth at a distance of 0.120 LD (0.00031 AU / 46 133 km / 28 666 miles) from the center of our planet at 11:40 UTC on March 22, 2026, becoming the third closest known asteroid flyby within 1 lunar distance recorded so far this year. Its closest point was about 39 762 km (24 707 miles) above Earth’s surface.
2026 FS5 is the 45th known asteroid to pass within 1 lunar distance of Earth since the start of the year and the third closest so far, after 2026 EM on March 7 at 0.072 LD and 2026 DN5 on February 22 at 0.112 LD.
The object belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, a class of near-Earth objects whose orbits cross Earth’s path, and has an estimated diameter of 1.4 to 3.1 m (4.6 to 10.2 feet).
It was first observed at MARGO in Nauchny, Crimea, at 21:06 UTC on March 22, about 9 hours and 26 minutes after closest approach. Its flyby took place at a relative velocity of 10.79 km/s (6.70 mi/s).
Based on the current JPL orbit solution, 2026 FS5 is not expected to make a closer approach to Earth during the next 180 years. Its next listed approach is on October 5, 2037, when it is expected to pass at 75 LD.
References:
1 Asteroid 2026 FS5 – CNEOS – Accessed March 26, 2026
2 Asteroid 2026 FS5 – Minor Planet Center – Accessed March 26, 2026