A bus-sized, 33-foot newly discovered asteroid will fly close to Earth today, NASA confirms

Asteroid 2026 CC3 will flyby Earth at 976,000 miles distance on 11 March 2026. (Representative Image: Canva)

• Asteroid 2026 CC3 will pass Earth safely on March 11, 2026.
• The asteroid is about 33 feet wide, similar to a city bus.
• Scientists confirm no impact risk from 2026 CC3 during its flyby.

Did our AI summary help?

An asteroid roughly the size of a bus making a close approach to Earth. This asteroid is about 33 feet (10 metres). This will make a pass on March 11, 2026 safely at a distance of nearly 976,000 miles (1,571,270 km).

Although its flyby might sound big, but scientists are closely tracking the space rock as part of routine observations of near‑Earth objects (NEOs).

What Is Asteroid 2026 CC3?

Asteroid 2026 CC3 is a small near‑Earth asteroid roughly the length of a city bus about 33 feet (10 metres) in diameter. Asteroids of this size are much smaller than major planetary deflection targets.

2026 CC3 is one of many such objects that will pass Earth in the coming months. Its flyby provides scientists with additional opportunities to test and improve tracking techniques for small asteroids.

Why Was This Asteroid Noticed?

Asteroids are tracked by observatories around the world and by NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).

When a newly discovered object like 2026 CC3 is found to be on an orbit that brings it near Earth’s path, astronomers calculate its trajectory to determine when it will come closest to our planet.

When Will It Come Closest to Earth?

According to orbital data, this asteroid will pass across Earth March 11, 2026. At that time, the asteroid will pass at a distance of around 1,571,270 kilometres (976,000 miles).

The asteroid will make its closest pass to Earth on the morning at around 05:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). This corresponds to about 10:30 a.m. Indian Standard Time (IST), though exact timing can shift slightly as astronomers refine the orbit.

Is There Any Danger to Earth?

No. Asteroid 2026 CC3 poses no impact risk to Earth during this flyby. Scientists use precise measurements to rule out collisions years or decades in advance

Such objects passing at distances are considered routine parts of life in a dynamic Solar System. Objects of this size, even if they were on a collision course, would generally burn up in the atmosphere if they encountered Earth.