On April 29, 2026, Earth will be hit by two airplane-sized asteroids in safe flybys, astronomical data suggests. The near-Earth asteroids, (2026 HL3) and (2026 HP3), will miss Earth by millions of miles and will not pose a threat.
Meet the two flybys making approach towards Earth
On April 29, 2026, two airplane-sized asteroids will safely pass Earth at distances of 1.6 million and 3.68 million miles respectively. Know more about these:
Asteroid 2026 HL3: Closer but smaller one
The first of the pair, (2026 HL3), is thought to be about 80 feet (the size of a small plane) across. It’s expected to approach close to Earth at about 1.6 million miles. This asteroid is considered a near-Earth object but is deemed non-threatening at the current distance.
Asteroid 2026 HP3: Biggest but more distant
The second asteroid, (2026 HP3), is a bit larger, at about 93 feet in diameter. However, it will make its closest approach at much further away (3.68 million miles away), making it harmless.
What are these near-Earth asteroids?
Near-Earth asteroids are cosmic rocks with orbits that take them near the Earth’s orbit. A large number of these objects fly past Earth, but only a few get close enough to trigger interest from scientists or space watchers.
While 2026 HL3 and 2026 HP3 are referred to as “airplane-sized”, both are safe flybys. Their millions of miles from Earth position them far away from Earth.
There are more significant close approaches when objects pass within the distance of the Moon or closer, which happen very rarely (a few per year), and are tracked by space agencies.
