Browsing: Asteroid

Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, although they can be located throughout the solar system. These celestial bodies range in size from tiny pebbles to objects that are hundreds of kilometers in diameter. Asteroids are considered remnants from the early solar system, over 4.5 billion years ago, composed mostly of rock and metal, and they have not undergone the same transformational processes as planets. Their varied compositions and orbital paths offer scientists valuable clues about the early solar system’s formation and the materials that constituted the planets. Some asteroids cross Earth’s orbit and are classified as near-Earth objects (NEOs), which pose potential collision threats to our planet. The study of asteroids has significant implications for understanding Earth’s history, including the origin of water and organic materials necessary for life, and for future endeavors in planetary defense and space resource utilization.