NEO close approaches chain + Rubin 11k asteroid haul: HB4 Apr12 + FV6 Apr13
Key Questions
What are the close approaches of asteroids HB4 and FV6?
House-sized HB4 passed at 4 million miles, about 17x the Moon's distance, on April 12. FV6, 91 feet wide, flew by safely beyond 7 lunar distances or 2.7 million km on April 13.
How does Rubin Observatory contribute to asteroid detection?
Rubin spotted an unprecedented 11,000 asteroids, including 33 near-Earth objects, boosting inventory. This extends chains like EG1/FM3/FQ2/FB3 for scale visuals.
Are these NEO close approaches a threat to Artemis or the Moon?
All tracked by CNEOS are safe; visuals compare 'how close' scales to Artemis fragility and Moon orbit. Rubin enhances monitoring for planetary defense.
House-sized HB4 4M mi/~17x Moon Apr12; FV6 91ft >7 LD/~2.7M km Apr13 (CNEOS, safe); Rubin 11k ast/33 NEOs boosts inventory; extends EG1/FM3/FQ2/FB3 chain for 'how close' scales vs Artemis fragility/Moon orbit visuals.
Sources (2)
Updated Apr 14, 2026