2026 MD
2026 MD
Current distance from Earth
3,937,782 km
10.2 lunar distances · 0.026 AU
Heliocentric orbit · live
Next close approach
2026-Jun-30
Passes 7.8 lunar distances from Earth — about 2,996,477 km, closing at 11.0 km/s.
Long-term impact monitoring
2026 MD is tracked on the long-term monitoring list — here’s what the numbers actually mean.
Torino scale
0 — No hazard
Cumulative impact chance
1 in 4,304,964
2.3e-5% across all dates
Palermo scale
-6.74
below background risk
Possible dates tracked
4
between 2097 and 2125
A Torino rating of 0 means no cause for concern, and a Palermo value of -6.74 — below zero — means the chance is lower than the background risk of a similar random impact over the same period. The headline figure is a cumulative probability spread across 4 possible dates between 2097 and 2125, so the chance on any one date is far smaller still. No impact is predicted, and objects are routinely removed from monitoring as their orbits are refined — both Apophis and 2024 YR4 were.
Orbit class
APO
around the Sun
Orbital period
3.44 yr
1257 days
Diameter
43 m
roughly the height of the Statue of Liberty
Eccentricity
0.589
orbit shape
Inclination
1.1°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
—
Frequently asked questions
How close does 2026 MD come to Earth?
Its next notable close approach is on 2026-Jun-30, when it passes about 7.8 lunar distances from Earth — roughly 2,996,477 km. 2026 MD is currently about 10 lunar distances away — the live orbit and distance are shown above.
Is 2026 MD going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. 2026 MD is tracked on the long-term impact-monitoring list with a cumulative chance of roughly 1 in 4,304,964, spread across 4 possible dates between 2097 and 2125 — a very low probability. Its Torino rating is 0 (no hazard), and its Palermo value of -6.74 sits below the background level. Objects are removed from monitoring as their orbits are refined. The full impact-monitoring breakdown is shown above.
How big is 2026 MD?
2026 MD is estimated at about 43 m across — roughly the height of the Statue of Liberty. Size estimates are derived from how bright the asteroid appears and refined by radar and thermal measurements when it passes close to Earth.
What kind of orbit does 2026 MD have?
2026 MD is APO object. It orbits the Sun once every 3.44 years, on an elliptical path that reaches beyond Earth’s orbit and swings back toward the Sun. The interactive orbit diagram above shows where it is right now.
Can I see 2026 MD through a telescope?
Most of the time 2026 MD is far too faint to see, but during a close approach it can brighten enough for amateur telescopes. Check the close-approach date above, then plan your night with our sky and space-weather tools.
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