Overview
- Asteroid 2026 FM3, which makes its closest approach Wednesday, will pass about 148,000 miles from Earth at roughly 12,000 mph with no impact risk.
- NASA says four other small asteroids — 2026 FX3, 2026 FT2, 2026 FQ2, and 2026 FG3 — will also pass this week at distances between about 1.1 million and 4.4 million miles.
- Recent bright meteors reported across Texas, California, the Midwest, and Ontario from March 21 to 23 reflect small rocks burning up in the atmosphere, not a sign of larger danger.
- Scientists note an object around 15 feet would break apart in the air and appear as a fireball rather than cause damage on the ground.
- USA TODAY reports Blue Origin is working with Caltech and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on asteroid-defense studies, pointing to a shift from detection to possible deflection.