![]() ![]() S type asteroids are considerably brighter with an average albedo of 0.16. They can be found in the outer regions of the Asteroid Belt These asteroids are very dark, with an average albedo of about 0.06 and are thought to have a similar composition as the Sun. ![]() The composition is determined by how far the asteroid was from the Sun during the time of its formation.Ībout two-thirds of all asteroids are thought to be C type asteroids. Most Asteroids fall into one of three groups based on their composition: C, S and M types. 7.They can be Classified According to their Composition The most famous of these is Dactyl, a small moon orbiting Ida, an Asteroid Belt asteroid. And Yet, some Asteroids have MoonsĪbout 150 Asteroids are known today to have one or more moons orbiting them. The largest asteroid known to man, Ceres, is about 590 miles (950 km) in diameter.Īstronomers estimate that if all the asteroids in the Solar System were put together, the size of the resulting rock will be much smaller than our Moon! 6. They Come in Different SizesĪsteroids can measure anywhere between a few feet to several hundred miles in diameter. In 2010, scientists discovered the first Trojan Asteroid, 2010 TK7, that follows the Earth's orbit.Īsteroids that are pushed close to the Earth’s orbit are known as Near Earth Asteroids. Jupiter has two clusters of Trojans following its orbit around the Sun – the one ahead of the planet is called the Greek Camp and the one behind is known as the Trojan Camp. For example, Trojan Asteroids, named after the Trojan Wars in Greek Mythology, follow the orbits of a planet. While most of the known asteroids live in the Asteroid Belt, there are many that orbit the Sun outside this belt. That is a lot of space between two neighboring asteroids! 4. This is about 2.5 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Astronomers estimate that the average distance between two asteroids in the asteroid belt is about 600,000 miles (966,000 km). In fact it is a very lonely place for an asteroid. Well, imagine again because the Asteroid Belt is nothing like that. ![]() Imagining the Asteroid Belt as in the movies – a small strip of space littered with huge rocks intent on mowing down your space ship? Of the millions of asteroids that inhabit our solar system, a majority can be found in a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. These became asteroids.īecause they revolve around the Sun like planets do, asteroids are also sometimes called planetoids or minor planets.Īstronomical terms & definitions 2. Many others were held back from getting together by Jupiter's gravitation force. Some of these celestial rocks were able to grow large enough to develop their own gravity and became planets. One theory is that after the Big Bang, dust particles came together to form celestial objects through a process called accretion – smaller objects came together with other small objects, creating larger space rocks. Many astronomers believe that asteroids are rocky leftovers from the formation of the Solar System 4.6 billion years ago. They were Created at the Same Time as the Earth
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