Asteroid 2026 GD to Pass Inside the Moon's Orbit on April 9
A newly discovered asteroid will fly past Earth at 0.7 lunar distances on April 9 -- closer than the Moon. 68 near-Earth objects are tracked this week, including two classified as potentially hazardous.
NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) is tracking 68 asteroids making close approaches to Earth between April 7 and April 13, 2026. The closest -- designated 2026 GD -- will pass at just 0.7 lunar distances on April 9, well inside the Moon's orbit.
Closest Approaches This Week
| Date | Object | Size (est.) | Distance | Speed | Hazardous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 9 | 2026 GD | 13-29 m | 0.7 LD | 45,562 km/h | No |
| Apr 7 | 2011 FT9 | 15-34 m | 3.4 LD | 21,137 km/h | No |
| Apr 7 | 2024 TB7 | 4-8 m | 4.8 LD | 27,085 km/h | No |
| Apr 13 | 2026 FV6 | 22-49 m | 7.4 LD | 39,965 km/h | No |
| Apr 11 | 2026 FE7 | 22-48 m | 8.8 LD | 28,177 km/h | No |
| Apr 7 | 2002 TB70 | 123-274 m | 13.4 LD | 33,271 km/h | Yes |
Distances are measured in lunar distances (LD), where 1 LD = 384,400 km, the average Earth-Moon distance.
2026 GD: Inside the Moon's Orbit
2026 GD is a small object estimated at 13-29 meters in diameter -- roughly the size of a large house. At 0.7 LD (approximately 269,000 km), it will pass closer to Earth than the Moon.
At this size, 2026 GD is not classified as potentially hazardous. Objects must be at least 140 meters to receive that designation. An asteroid this size would likely break apart in the atmosphere if it were on a collision course, similar to the 2013 Chelyabinsk event (a 20-meter object that exploded over Russia).
Two Potentially Hazardous Asteroids
Two objects this week carry the "potentially hazardous" designation:
2002 TB70 (123-274 m) passes at 13.4 LD on April 7 at 33,271 km/h. At its estimated upper size of 274 meters, this object could cause regional devastation in an impact scenario. Its 13.4 LD miss distance (5.15 million km) represents no threat.
363599 (2004 FG11) (164-366 m) passes at 22.0 LD on April 11 at 90,257 km/h -- the fastest object of the week. At up to 366 meters, it is the largest tracked object in this window.
Context
68 tracked objects in a single week is typical. NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office monitors roughly 2,400 potentially hazardous asteroids. The detection rate has accelerated as survey telescopes improve -- most small objects like 2026 GD are discovered only days before their closest approach.
Source: NASA Near Earth Object Web Service (NeoWs) and CNEOS Close Approach Data