Asteroid 1997 NC1 makes close pass by Earth, observable with telescopes

On 27 June 2026 at 13:14 CET, asteroid 1997 NC1 passed Earth at a distance of about 2.6 million km (6.7 lunar distances). Its size is estimated between 750 m and 1.65 km, classifying it as a potentially hazardous object, though the fly‑by posed no danger.

The approach coincided with International Asteroid Day on 30 June, a United Nations‑sponsored event to raise awareness of near‑Earth objects. Astronomers highlighted the rarity of such a close encounter for an object of this size, with Juan Luis Cano of ESA’s Planetary Defence Office noting, "A close approach of this magnitude occurs only every few years." The asteroid reached peak brightness on the night of 28 June, making it visible with modest equipment. Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project said, "The upcoming fly‑by of 1997 NC1 will truly be remarkable," adding that observers could see it through a small telescope or even a good pair of binoculars.