- 5kt meteor strike in 2026?13¢13%
No known near-Earth objects tracked by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies or ESA systems carry meaningful impact risk for 2026 at energies sufficient for a 5-kiloton airburst. Sentry risk lists and close-approach data show only small, sub-20-meter objects with negligible probabilities, while historical CNEOS fireball records indicate 5 kt-scale events occur irregularly, averaging roughly once per year from undetected meteoroids. Partial-year 2026 activity, including confirmed tiny impacts like 2026 RW1, remains well below threshold with no model shifts or new detections elevating odds. Ongoing surveys continue to confirm the low baseline hazard from the undetected population.
Rules
This market will resolve to "Yes" if a natural meteoroid (bolide) explodes in Earth's atmosphere with a total impact energy greater than or equal to 5 kilotons of TNT equivalent between January 1 and December 31, 2026, 11:59 PM ET. Otherwise, this market will resolve to “No”. The object must be classified as a natural meteoroid; events involving artificial objects or reentry vehicles do not qualify. The primary resolution source will be the NASA JPL Fireball and Bolide Data repository: https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/fireballs/. The relevant field for determining impact energy is the “Impact Energy (kt)” column. If this dataset has not been updated to include all relevant dates by February 28, 2027, or if the NASA JPL Fireball and Bolide Data repository becomes permanently unavailable, this market may resolve based on a consensus of credible sources including the European Space Agency (ESA), the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), the U.S. Department of Defense, or credible reporting of a scientific consensus, such as a NASA press release.