Car sized asteroid 2026 FM3 to pass close to Earth at 11000 mph tonight

A newly discovered asteroid named 2026 FM3 is set to pass close to Earth tonight, travelling at a speed of around 11,461 miles per hour and coming nearer than the Moon’s orbit.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the asteroid will make its closest approach at 10:07 p.m. EDT on March 24, passing at a distance of approximately 147,836 miles from Earth’s southern hemisphere.

The object, estimated to be between 13 and 26 feet in diameter, was first detected just days ago by the Zwicky Transient Facility at Palomar Observatory in California.

Scientists have confirmed that the asteroid poses no threat to Earth or the Moon, as its trajectory will carry it safely past both bodies.

Initial observations indicate that 2026 FM3 follows a near-circular orbit around the Sun lasting about 354 days, crossing Earth’s orbital path twice each year.

The asteroid is part of a broader group of near-Earth objects making close approaches this week, including a much larger body identified as 2026 FX3.

Nasa data shows that more than 41,000 near-Earth asteroids have been identified so far, with ongoing monitoring to track their paths and assess potential risks.

Experts note that objects of this size typically burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, often appearing as bright fireballs, and such events occur roughly once every decade, sometimes accompanied by sonic booms.