2026 RC
2026 RC
Current distance from Earth
673,241km
1.8 lunar distances0.005 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Next close approach
2026-Sep-03
Passes 0.76 lunar distances from Earth — about 290,677 km, closing at 6.2 km/s.
Long-term impact monitoring
2026 RC 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 462,534,690
2.2e-7% across all dates
Palermo scale
-10.88
below background risk
Possible dates tracked
1
in 2079
A Torino rating of 0 means no cause for concern, and a Palermo value of -10.88 — 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 1 possible dates in 2079, 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
ATE
around the Sun
Orbital period
0.82 yr
299 days
Diameter
5 m
about the size of a house
Eccentricity
0.225
orbit shape
Inclination
7.2°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
—
Size in perspective
45%2026 RC is about 45% the size of a double-decker bus.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 24.2
Too faint to observe
Right ascension
20h 26m
Declination
−31° 01′
From your location
tap to check ›
2026 RC is currently faint (magnitude 24.2) — it brightens around close approaches. Position is in equatorial coordinates (J2000); pair it with our sky conditions to plan a session.
Frequently asked questions
How close does 2026 RC come to Earth?
Its next notable close approach is on 2026-Sep-03, when it passes about 0.76 lunar distances from Earth — roughly 290,677 km, closer than many satellites. 2026 RC is currently about 2 lunar distances away — the live orbit and distance are shown above.
Is 2026 RC going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. 2026 RC is tracked on the long-term impact-monitoring list with a cumulative chance of roughly 1 in 462,534,690, spread across 1 possible dates in 2079 — a very low probability. Its Torino rating is 0 (no hazard), and its Palermo value of -10.88 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 RC?
2026 RC is estimated at about 5 m across — about the size of a house. 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 RC have?
2026 RC is ATE object. It orbits the Sun once every 0.82 years, on an elliptical path that spends much of its time inside Earth’s orbit. The interactive orbit diagram above shows where it is right now.
Can I see 2026 RC through a telescope?
Most of the time 2026 RC 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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