Asteroid

A small, irregularly shaped object made of metal (iron and nickel), rocky materials, or a combination of the two that orbits the Sun or another planet. Most of the asteroids orbit in a broad band between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The largest is Ceres, which is about 600 miles (900 km) in diameter.

Resources

 The Solar System: Minor Bodies: Remnants from the Beginning Whenever you build a new house, you always have...
Frequently Asked Questions: Earth Impacts, Craters and Extinction Events
The Solar System: Minor Bodies: Asteroids At the dawn of the 19th century, a group of...

Radio Programs

 Space Rocks Rocks from beyond Earth Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Another Encounter Keeping tabs on a rocky visitor Monday, November 7, 2011
Galileo at Gaspra A first encounter with a space rock Saturday, October 29, 2011
NEEMO Diving toward an asteroid Monday, October 17, 2011
Another Close Call A close visit by an asteroid Sunday, October 16, 2011
Dawn at Vesta III An asteroid with a difference Friday, July 15, 2011
Dawn at Vesta II A gentle ride to an asteroid Thursday, July 14, 2011
Close Encounter A neighbor pays Earth a close visit Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Irene Discovering a "peaceful" planetoid Thursday, May 19, 2011
Lutetia Ready to map an asteroid Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Ready for Vesta Ready to map a giant asteroid Monday, May 2, 2011
Taking Inventory II Watching for invaders from beyond Sunday, March 27, 2011
Taking Inventory Taking inventory of the solar system Saturday, March 26, 2011
NEAR Encounter A close encounter with an asteroid Saturday, February 12, 2011
Vulcanoid Zone Searching the "vulcanoid zone" Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Geminid Meteors The meteoric fate of a meteor parent Monday, December 13, 2010
Asteroid Touchdown Picking up bits of an asteroid Saturday, November 20, 2010
Close Targets Grabbing a lingering visitor Friday, November 19, 2010

Featured Images

Galileo view of Gaspra, the first asteroid visited by a spacecraft
 First Encounter Saturday, October 29, 2011
Dawn's first view of Vesta after entering orbit, July 2011
 Settling In Monday, July 18, 2011
Dawn spacecraft view of asteroid Vesta shortly before entering orbit
 First Stop Friday, July 15, 2011
The path of asteroid 2011 MD as it passes Earth, June 2011
 Close Call Saturday, June 25, 2011

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