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An asteroid is a minor planet —an object that is neither a true planet nor a comet —that orbits within the inner Solar System. They are rocky, metallic, or icy bodies with no atmosphere. The size and shape of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from small rubble piles under a kilometer across to Ceres, a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter.
Learn about asteroids, the rocky leftovers from the early solar system, and their orbits, sizes, and missions. Explore the 3D world of asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with NASA resources and stories.
3 days ago · Learn about asteroids, small bodies that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Find out how they were discovered, named, and studied by astronomers.
May 6, 2024 · Learn about asteroids, small, rocky objects that orbit the sun and are leftovers from the formation of our solar system. Find out how scientists study asteroids and what they can tell us about the history of planets and the sun.
Learn about asteroids, the rocky leftovers from the early solar system, and their types, orbits, and impact hazards. Find out how scientists monitor and name these minor planets, and explore their images and resources.
Nov 1, 2022 · Tue 1 Nov 2022 15.05 EDT. Astronomers say they have discovered the largest planet killer-sized asteroid in eight years, and that the huge space rock will cross Earth’s orbit. The asteroid,...
Asteroids, sometimes called minor planets, are rocky remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. The current known asteroid count is: . Most of this ancient space rubble can be found orbiting our Sun between Mars and Jupiter within the main asteroid belt.
