Asteroids

The video explores the history and discovery of asteroids, starting with Ceres, the first identified asteroid. It discusses the classification, composition, and structure of asteroids, including the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. The video also covers the visits by spacecraft to Ceres and Vesta, the concept of rubble pile asteroids, and the various orbits of asteroids, including near-Earth and Trojan asteroids. It concludes with the naming conventions for asteroids and the role of the International Astronomical Union.

What was the first asteroid discovered between Mars and Jupiter?

• Pallas

• Ceres

• Vesta

• Juno

What does the term 'asteroid' literally mean?

• Moon-like

• Comet-like

• Planet-like

• Star-like

Which type of asteroid is most common in the asteroid belt?

• Carbonaceous

• Silicatious

• Metallic

• Icy

What is the Kirkwood gap?

• A gap in the asteroid belt caused by Jupiter's gravity

• A gap in the Oort cloud

• A gap in Saturn's rings

• A gap in the Kuiper belt

What is unique about the asteroid Ceres?

• It is the smallest asteroid

• It has a rocky core and water-ice mantle

• It is the fastest rotating asteroid

• It is the only asteroid with a moon

What is a rubble pile asteroid?

• An asteroid with a solid core

• An asteroid made entirely of metal

• An asteroid with a smooth surface

• An asteroid composed of loosely bound rocks

How did Jupiter influence the formation of the asteroid belt?

• By flinging asteroids away with its gravity

• By forming a new planet in the belt

• By attracting all asteroids to its orbit

• By absorbing all the asteroids

What are Mars-crossing asteroids?

• Asteroids that are captured by Mars

• Asteroids that orbit between Mars and Earth

• Asteroids that cross Mars' orbit

• Asteroids that orbit only Mars

What are Trojan asteroids?

• Asteroids that orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt

• Asteroids that orbit Earth

• Asteroids that share an orbit with a planet

• Asteroids that orbit the Sun beyond Neptune

How are asteroids named today?

• After the discoverer's favorite animal

• After the discoverer's family members

• Through a proposal process by the International Astronomical Union

• Randomly by a computer algorithm