answersLogoWhite

0

When the Solar System formed, not everything was used to make planets and moons, leftovers became asteroids and comets. They are perhaps the oldest remnants of the early Solar System and what we learn from them tells us about our own early history.

Most of the asteroids lie between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but some have very elliptical orbits which bring them very close to Earth. They range in size from about 30% the diameter of our moon to pebble sized objects. In number, there are probably billion of asteroids in the solar system.

The largest known asteroid is Ceres which was the first asteroid to be discovered in 1801. Ceres is about 1/3 the size of our moon. It can be seen in amateur telescopes if one knows where and when to look.

Most asteroids are of the small irregular variety. None of them are large enough to have high enough gravity to pull themselves into spherical shape. Images of the same asteroid vary in brightness which confirms the irregular shape.

The Galileo spacecraft passed through the asteroid belt twice on its way to Jupiter. The spacecraft passed only 16.000 km from the asteroid Gaspra in 1990 and returned excellent images. Gaspra is an oblong world measuring 20 by 12 by 11 km. It is covered by a layer of shattered soil about a meter deep. There are also numerous craters on Gaspra's surface.

In 1993, Galileo passed only 3500 km from the asteroid Ida. This was another irregularly shaped world about 52 km long. Ida is also a heavily cratered world. What was startling about Ida was that it was found to have a smaller body orbiting it! The little moon was 1.5 km in diameter, the first found to orbit an asteroid.

The asteroids which pass close to Earth are known as Near Earth Objects. They are tracked by a program called Spacewatch. The program has found over 100 times more near Earth objects than was expected. Over 50 of these objects pass within the moon's orbit each day. The danger of a collision with Earth is minimal but still significant. Astronomers are more interested in the origin of these objects.

Astronomers have divided asteroids into 3 classes, according to color and spectra. S type asteroids, including Gaspra, are reddish in color. It is believed these are silicates mixed with metals. C type asteroids are very dark in color and appear to be carbonaceous in composition. M type asteroids are bright but not reddish. These appear to be iron-nickel mixtures. S types are common in the inner asteroid belts while C types are common in the outer belts.

ORIGIN OF THE ASTEROIDS

Kathy A Miles and Charles F. Peters 2

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What is a sand-to boulder-sized particle of debris in the solar system called?

A sand-to boulder-sized particle of debris in the solar system is called a meteoroid.


Was Extra debris was swept out away from our solar system by the sun's radiation and solar wind towards the end of the formation of our solar system?

Extra debris was swept out away from our solar system by the sun's radiation and solar wind towards the end of the formation of our solar system.


What is a piece of solar system debris that passes through Earth's atmosphere and strikes the ground called?

That's called a meteorite.


Debris from the solar system strikes the earth as what?

Debris from the solar system that strikes the Earth is known as meteoroids. When meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, they are called meteors or shooting stars. If a meteor survives its journey through the atmosphere and lands on Earth, it is called a meteorite.


What is A piece of solar system debris that passes through Earth's atmosphere and strikes the ground is a?

That's called a meteorite.


What is your solar system called?

Our Solar System is called the Solar System, Why?, what do you Aliens call it.


What exists in your solar system?

Our solar system contains the sun, and all the planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and various debris that orbit it.


What are leftover debris from the formation of the solar system They are large bodies of tiny particles and glowing gases?

The leftover debris from the formation of the solar system are asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. These are remnants of the material that created the planets and other celestial bodies in our solar system. They exist in the form of rocks, ice, and dust left over from the early stages of the solar system's evolution.


Does the sun create dust in the solar system?

Yes, the sun does create dust in the solar system through processes such as solar wind and solar flares. These events can release particles and debris into space, contributing to the presence of dust in the solar system.


What is your nearest solar system called?

The Solar System?


What are the release dates for Astronomy Observations and Theories - 2005 Solar System Debris 1-19?

Astronomy Observations and Theories - 2005 Solar System Debris 1-19 was released on: USA: 21 June 2006


What is the name of your solar system?

My solar system (and yours if you are from Earth) is just called "The Solar System".