2026-01-28, 06:50 PM
CNEOS predicts that the large NEA, (162882) 2001 FD58, will make a close approach on 2026-Feb-14 14:11±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.04344 AU moving with V Relative=19.16 km/sec, H=18.8 magnitude, diameter 470 m - 1.0 km and 'Rarity'=2. As of 2025 April 29, there was a 9147 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0325364 AU. The solution date was 2025-Apr-29 06:21:41 PDT. Discovered 2001-03-24 by LINEAR at Socorro. The observation arc was extended to 2000-04-12. This NEA is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. The next close approach on 2034-Feb-13 15:18 ± < 00:01 UT will be at 0.03254 AU, the MOID distance.
Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 Jan 28 0000 UT, ST 4.1.11 20 Visual Pro predicts that ((162882) 2001 FD58 will reach a peak brightness of 14.6 magnitude on February 16 traveling through Camelopardalis at 0.047 AU and 31"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 February 14 at 0900 EST (1400 UT) with the NEA traveling through Cassiopeia at 15.2 magnitude and 36.9"/minute, but in daylight in Columbus, Ohio. As of January 28 it's 19.6 magnitude in Aquarius.
Here's the Object Info dialog for (162882) 2001 FD58:
The orbit for this NEA is well defined and it won't pass too close-by so the orbital elements provided by the MPC may be adequate to generate accurate positions for this object. There should be updated orbit calculations shown on the CNEOS website in the next 7 to 10 days as the time of the close approach nears.
Good hunting,
Phil S.
Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 Jan 28 0000 UT, ST 4.1.11 20 Visual Pro predicts that ((162882) 2001 FD58 will reach a peak brightness of 14.6 magnitude on February 16 traveling through Camelopardalis at 0.047 AU and 31"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 February 14 at 0900 EST (1400 UT) with the NEA traveling through Cassiopeia at 15.2 magnitude and 36.9"/minute, but in daylight in Columbus, Ohio. As of January 28 it's 19.6 magnitude in Aquarius.
Here's the Object Info dialog for (162882) 2001 FD58:
The orbit for this NEA is well defined and it won't pass too close-by so the orbital elements provided by the MPC may be adequate to generate accurate positions for this object. There should be updated orbit calculations shown on the CNEOS website in the next 7 to 10 days as the time of the close approach nears.
Good hunting,
Phil S.