2026 VK8
2026 VK8
Current distance from Earth
3,422,795km
8.9 lunar distances0.023 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Next close approach
2026-Nov-12
Passes 7.8 lunar distances from Earth — about 3,003,493 km, closing at 22.7 km/s.
Long-term impact monitoring
2026 VK8 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 436,533
2.3e-4% across all dates
Palermo scale
-5.40
below background risk
Possible dates tracked
7
between 2071 and 2079
A Torino rating of 0 means no cause for concern, and a Palermo value of -5.40 — 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 7 possible dates between 2071 and 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
APO
around the Sun
Orbital period
1.53 yr
560 days
Diameter
33 m
roughly the height of the Statue of Liberty
Eccentricity
0.604
orbit shape
Inclination
23.8°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
—
Size in perspective
35%2026 VK8 is about 35% the size of the Statue of Liberty.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 22.6
Too faint to observe
Right ascension
4h 40m
Declination
+66° 46′
From your location
tap to check ›
2026 VK8 is currently faint (magnitude 22.6) — 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 VK8 come to Earth?
Its next notable close approach is on 2026-Nov-12, when it passes about 7.8 lunar distances from Earth — roughly 3,003,493 km. 2026 VK8 is currently about 9 lunar distances away — the live orbit and distance are shown above.
Is 2026 VK8 going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. 2026 VK8 is tracked on the long-term impact-monitoring list with a cumulative chance of roughly 1 in 436,533, spread across 7 possible dates between 2071 and 2079 — a very low probability. Its Torino rating is 0 (no hazard), and its Palermo value of -5.40 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 VK8?
2026 VK8 is estimated at about 33 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 VK8 have?
2026 VK8 is APO object. It orbits the Sun once every 1.53 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 VK8 through a telescope?
Most of the time 2026 VK8 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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