2026 RW3
2026 RW3
Current distance from Earth
1,481,464km
3.9 lunar distances0.010 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Next close approach
2026-Sep-10
Passes 1.1 lunar distances from Earth — about 405,029 km, closing at 9.5 km/s.
Long-term impact monitoring
2026 RW3 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 99,759
1.0e-3% across all dates
Palermo scale
-6.53
below background risk
Possible dates tracked
35
between 2055 and 2124
A Torino rating of 0 means no cause for concern, and a Palermo value of -6.53 — 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 35 possible dates between 2055 and 2124, 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
1.17 yr
427 days
Diameter
11 m
about the size of a house
Eccentricity
0.328
orbit shape
Inclination
3.0°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
—
Size in perspective
≈ 1×2026 RW3 is about the size of a double-decker bus.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 21.0
Too faint to observe
Right ascension
17h 23m
Declination
−24° 40′
From your location
tap to check ›
2026 RW3 is currently faint (magnitude 21.0) — 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 RW3 come to Earth?
Its next notable close approach is on 2026-Sep-10, when it passes about 1.1 lunar distances from Earth — roughly 405,029 km. 2026 RW3 is currently about 4 lunar distances away — the live orbit and distance are shown above.
Is 2026 RW3 going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. 2026 RW3 is tracked on the long-term impact-monitoring list with a cumulative chance of roughly 1 in 99,759, spread across 35 possible dates between 2055 and 2124 — a very low probability. Its Torino rating is 0 (no hazard), and its Palermo value of -6.53 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 RW3?
2026 RW3 is estimated at about 11 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 RW3 have?
2026 RW3 is APO object. It orbits the Sun once every 1.17 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 RW3 through a telescope?
Most of the time 2026 RW3 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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