Rocks in Space

........................................ are objects made from rock that orbit the Sun

• Shooting stars

• meteoroids

• asteroids

• comets

Most of the asteroids in the Solar System orbit the Sun between the orbits of Earth and Jupiter

• True

• False

Draw the Asteroid Belt.

What is the name of the largest asteroid?

How long is the Asteroid Itokawa?

• 530m

• 560m

• 520m

• 540m

Asteroid impacts cause disturbance to the Earth's surface. So, it is important to regularly monitor the space and predict possible asteroid hits. There are around 50,000 asteroid impact simulations conducted all around the Earth to study the possible outcomes, in case there is an asteroid impact.

What do you think about the simulations?

• Yes, they are required. These simulations help the scientists find out the impact and do the needful in case a real asteroid is spotted

• No, they are just based on predictions. There are less likely possibilities of an asteroid impact in the very near future.

• I am not so sure.

Name the oldest and largest meteorite crater impact in India.

• Lonar Lake Crater, Maharashtra

• Ramgarh Crater, Rajasthan

• Dhala Crater, Madhya Pradesh

• Luna Crater, Gujarat

What is a meteorite?

• Rocks that orbit around the Sun.

• Cosmic snowballs of frozen gases, rocks and dust.

• Space rocks ranging in size from dust grains to small asteroids.

• A rock that falls to Earth from space.

Which government organisation of India is responsible for research, analysis and custody of the meteorite "falls" and "finds"?

(You can Google)

Do meteorites hit the Moon as well?

• Yes

• No