What is an Asteroid?
Asteroids, also called minor planets or planetoids, are a class of astronomical object. The term asteroid is generally used to indicate a diverse group of small celestial bodies that drift in the solar system in orbit around the Sun. Asteroid (Greek for “star-like”) is the word used most in the English literature for minor planets, which has been the term preferred by the International Astronomical Union; some other languages prefer planetoid (Greek: “planet-like”), because it more accurately describes what they are. In late August 2006, the IAU introduced the term “small solar system bodies” (SSSBs), which includes most objects thusfar classified as minor planets, as well as comets. At the same time they introduced the term dwarf planet for the largest minor planets. This article deals specifically with the minor planets that orbit in the inner solar system (roughly up to the orbit of Jupiter). For other types of objects, such as comets, Trans-Neptunian objects, and Centaurs, see Smal
Definitions of Asteroid. * Any of the thousands of small rocky objects that orbit around the Sun, most of them between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter (although some pass closer to the Sun that Earth does and others have orbits that take them well beyond Jupiter). The largest asteroid is one called Ceres; it’s about as wide as the state of Texas. * A small solar system object in orbit around the sun composed mostly of rock. Many of these objects orbit the sun between Mars and Jupiter. Their size can range anywhere from 10 meters in diameter to almost 1000 kilometers. * One of thousands of very small members of the solar system orbiting the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Asteroids are often referred to as “minor planets.” * one of a number of objects ranging in size from sub-kilometer to about 1,000 kilometers, most of which lie between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter; also called “minor planets”. www.namnmeteors.org/appendixE. html * An interplanetary body, of varying size n
An asteroid, sometimes called a planetoid, is a small celestial body which orbits around the sun, along with other objects in the solar system such as planets. However, unlike the planets, asteroids are typically very small, with only a handful of asteroids reaching immense sizes. The largest known asteroid is Ceres, which is 580 miles (930 kilometers) in diameter. After the discovery of Ceres in 1801, many other asteroids were discovered, since astronomers knew what to look for. Thousands of new asteroids are discovered every year. The name asteroid comes from the Greek asteroides, which means “star like.” Asteroids are irregularly shaped collections of various materials, including metallic and carbonaceous minerals. When a fragment of an asteroid collides with the Earth’s atmosphere, it is termed a meteoroid. The flash of light which characterizes a meteor is caused by vaporization when the chunk of foreign material hits the atmosphere. Other foreign bodies which enter the Earth’s at
Asteroids are rocky and metallic objects that orbit the Sun but are too small to be considered planets. For this reason, they are also known as “minor planets”. Asteroids range in size from about 1000 km, down to the size of pebbles. They have been found from inside Earth’s orbit to beyond Saturn’s orbit. Most, however, are contained within an orbit that exists between Mars and Jupiter. Some have orbits that cross Earth’s path and some have even hit the Earth in the past. Asteroids are material left over from the formation of the Solar System. One theory suggests that they are the remains of a planet that was destroyed in a massive collision long ago. It is more likely that asteroids are material that never formed into a planet. It is estimated that the total mass of all asteroids gathered together would be about 932 miles (1500km) across. Much of our understanding about asteroids comes from examining pieces of space debris that fall to the surface of Earth. Because asteroids are mater
An asteroid is just like any of the bodies revolving around the Sun; mini-planets if you like. They are probably made up of the same stuff of most other bodies in our solar system, just that they are much smaller. Some have diameters of up to 500 miles and then some only 100 meters; the largest asteroids are called planetoids. Somebody asked how are rogue asteroids sited. How would I know? But if I did, what might be a good idea in order to find out, is to take a decent and huge telescope, probably a old one, as a new instrument would cost too much, a 36 inch one would do. Asteroid Moments Before Strike? A stellar telescope is able to move around [360 degrees] and up and down, so that it can pin point various objects in the sky. It can also move mechanically with time or in sync with the orbit of the Earth. The idea then is to set the telescope in motion with the Earth’s rotation and take three or more pictures of a small section of space, out of thousands of small sections of space. W
