It's coming today: NASA tracks car-sized asteroid on a direct path toward Earth - here's what we know

NASA asteroid 2026 FM3: A car-sized asteroid is set to make a close pass by Earth today, and while the word “asteroid” might sound alarming, scientists say there’s no reason to panic. NASA is currently tracking the space rock, known as 2026 FM3, as it moves past our planet at a speed of around 12,168 miles per hour, as per a report.

Car-Sized Asteroid Passing Earth Today: How Big Is Asteroid 2026 FM3 and How Close Will It Get

Measuring about 15 feet across, roughly the size of a small car, 2026 FM3 will make its closest approach at a distance of about 148,000 miles from Earth, as per a Newsweek report. In cosmic terms, that’s relatively close, but still safely far away.

Other Asteroids Passing Earth This Week

This isn’t the only asteroid passing by this week. NASA is also monitoring several others, including a larger, plane-sized asteroid called 2026 FX3, which is about 68 feet wide, and a house-sized one named 2026 FT2, measuring around 49 feet. Two more space rocks, 2026 FQ2 and 2026 FG3, will pass at greater distances of roughly 1.5 million and 1.93 million miles away, as per the Newsweek report.

Do Small Asteroids Pose Any Danger to Earth

According to NASA, small asteroids up to 30 feet wide hit Earth about once every ten years, but they usually don’t pose a serious threat, as reported by Newsweek. When they do enter the atmosphere, they typically create a bright fireball and a loud sonic boom, sometimes strong enough to break windows, but rarely causing significant damage.

How Dangerous Can Asteroids Really Be

The level of risk depends largely on size. For example, an asteroid between 174 and 220 feet wide, known as 2024 YR4, was once estimated to have a 3.1 percent chance of hitting Earth in 2032, one of the highest probabilities ever recorded for an object of that size. However, updated calculations now suggest an Earth impact is very unlikely, with some scientists saying it may instead collide with the Moon.

How Often Do Large Asteroids Hit Earth

NASA also notes that asteroids larger than 160 feet strike Earth roughly once every 1,000 years and could cause local damage, while much larger objects, over 3,000 feet, are extremely rare but capable of global devastation. The largest, over six miles across, are linked to mass extinction events, though they only impact Earth about once every 100 million years.

FAQs

Should I be worried about asteroid 2026 FM3?
No, scientists say it will safely pass Earth without any threat.

How big is the asteroid passing today?
It’s about 15 feet wide, roughly the size of a small car.