“NASA assures that there is no risk of impact and monitors its trajectory,” a spokesperson stated regarding the upcoming passage of asteroid 2026 FM3.
NASA is currently tracking a car-sized asteroid known as 2026 FM3, which is about 15 feet across. This asteroid is set to make its closest approach to Earth on March 25, 2026, coming within 148,000 miles, or approximately 237 kilometers, from our planet.
Asteroid 2026 FM3 is traveling at a speed of over 18 km/h. NASA has a long history of monitoring asteroids, having tracked Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) for decades. The agency currently keeps an eye on more than 41 NEOs, including other asteroids such as 2026 FX3, 2026 FT2, 2026 FQ2, and 2026 FG3.
Historically, asteroids measuring up to 30 feet across impact Earth roughly once every ten years, usually without posing any significant hazard. In contrast, larger asteroids, such as those over 3,000 feet, statistically hit Earth about every 700,000 years and could cause global devastation.
NASA explains the size of the asteroid and its impact on Earth, emphasizing that the vast majority of monitored asteroids do not pose a real risk. The agency has been tracking asteroids for decades, with the closest recorded encounter of 2026 FM3 occurring in 1965.
While asteroid 2024 YR4 was previously calculated to have a 3.1 percent chance of striking Earth in 2032, it is now too far away to observe with either space or ground-based telescopes. NASA expects to make further observations of asteroid 2024 YR4 when it returns to the vicinity of Earth in 2028.
Asteroids measuring 160 feet and over impact Earth about once every 1,000 years, potentially causing local devastation. In contrast, asteroids over 6 miles across impact Earth once every 100 million years and could lead to mass extinctions.
As the date of the closest approach for 2026 FM3 approaches, NASA will continue to monitor its trajectory and provide updates to the public.
