“NASA assures that there is no risk of impact and monitors its trajectory.” This statement comes as the agency keeps a close watch on a car-sized asteroid, known as 2026 FM3, which is set to zoom past Earth on March 25, 2026.
Measuring approximately 15 feet across, 2026 FM3 will make its closest approach at a distance of 148,000 miles, or about 237 kilometers, from our planet. This distance is considered safe, and NASA has confirmed that the asteroid is traveling at a speed of over 18 km/h.
NASA has been tracking asteroids for decades, with the closest recorded encounter of 2026 FM3 occurring in 1965. The agency is also monitoring other Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), including asteroids 2026 FX3, 2026 FT2, 2026 FQ2, and 2026 FG3.
Asteroids measuring up to 30 feet across impact Earth roughly once every ten years, typically posing no hazard. In contrast, larger asteroids, such as those over 3,000 feet, statistically hit Earth about every 700,000 years and could cause global devastation.
NASA’s ongoing efforts include tracking more than 41 NEOs, ensuring that the vast majority of monitored asteroids do not pose a real risk. The agency emphasizes that the likelihood of a significant impact is extremely low.
Asteroid 2024 YR4, which had a calculated 3.1 percent chance of striking Earth in 2032, is now too far away to observe with either space or ground-based telescopes. NASA expects to make further observations of this asteroid when it returns to the vicinity of Earth in 2028.
As the date of 2026 FM3’s approach nears, NASA continues to assure the public of their monitoring efforts and the safety of our planet. The agency remains vigilant in its mission to track and study asteroids, providing crucial information to mitigate any potential threats.
Details remain unconfirmed.