ASTEROIDS

Front

What is an asteroid?

Back

An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Front

How many asteroids larger than 1 km are estimated to exist in our solar system?

Back

There are probably over a million asteroids larger than 1 km in size.

Front

What is the largest asteroid in our solar system?

Back

Ceres is the largest asteroid and is classified as a dwarf planet.

Front

What shape does Ceres have and why?

Back

Ceres is spherical because it has enough mass for its gravity to pull it into a round shape.

Front

Where is the asteroid belt located?

Back

The asteroid belt is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Front

What are NEAs?

Back

NEAs stands for Near-Earth Asteroids, which are asteroids whose orbits bring them close to Earth.

Front

Do all asteroids live in the main belt?

Back

No, some asteroids have orbits that cross Mars and Earth.

Front

What happens to asteroids that leave the main belt?

Back

Asteroids that leave the main belt can have orbits that bring them close to other planets, but they do not become comets unless they undergo significant changes.

Front

What is the difference between asteroids and comets?

Back

Asteroids are primarily made of rock and metal, while comets are composed of ice, dust, and rocky material.

Front

What is the significance of studying asteroids?

Back

Studying asteroids helps scientists understand the early solar system and the formation of planets.