Asteroids: Explanation and Study Guide

What are Asteroids?

Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. They are leftover debris from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt, which is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. However, some asteroids also exist outside the asteroid belt.

Characteristics of Asteroids

• Asteroids are made up of rock, metal, and other elements.
• They vary in size, with some as small as pebbles and others as large as hundreds of kilometers in diameter.
• Asteroids can have irregular shapes and may be pockmarked with impact craters.
• They do not have an atmosphere or any significant gravitational pull.

Study Guide

1. Composition of Asteroids

What are asteroids made of? How does their composition differ from that of planets and moons?

2. Asteroid Belt

Where is the asteroid belt located? What is the significance of the asteroid belt in the solar system?

3. Impact of Asteroids

What are the potential consequences of an asteroid impact on Earth? How do scientists track and study near-Earth asteroids?

4. Asteroid Exploration

What are some of the missions that have been sent to study asteroids? What have we learned from these missions?

5. Future of Asteroid Research

What are the current and future plans for studying and potentially mining asteroids? What are the potential benefits and ethical considerations of asteroid mining?