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- Generally made up of rock and/or metal
- Sizes range between 1 and 940 kilometers
- There are over 90,000 documented asteroids
- Believed to be left over material from the formation of the Solar System
- First observed in the 1800s
- Name derived from Greek, meaning "star-like"NASA: Solar System Exploration - Asteroids
- First asteroid discovered: Ceres
- Ceres was later reclassified as a dwarf planet
- Most asteroids are found within the main asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter
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Asteroids are solid objects which orbit within the Solar System. They are generally made out of rock or metal, although many asteroids are known to contain ice and dust. Nearly all known asteroids originate from a region between Mars and Jupiter called the Asteroid Belt.
On March 18, 2009, an asteroid measuring 43 feet by 95 feet came within 49,000 miles of the Earth. The asteroid, named 2009 FH, was only discovered two nights prior to its fly by. However, officials say that there was never any real danger of a collision. This marks the second near miss asteroid to come this close to the Earth undetected in the same month.FOX New: Close Call: ... (March 18, 2009)
Types of Asteroids
- C-Type
- Also known as carbonaceous objects
- Carbon-rich, rocky composition
- Classify about three-quarters of known asteroids
- S-Type
- Also known as silicaceous objects
- Made mostly of Iron-rich rock
- Classify about one-sixth of known asteroidsNASA: Solar System Exploration - Asteroids
Near Misses
On March 2, 2009, asteroid 2009 DD45 passed at 41,010 miles miles above the earth. The "surprise asteroid" was not identified until February 28, 2009, when it was discovered an image taken at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia.National Geographic: Surprise Asteroid Buzzed Earth Monday (March 2, 2009)-
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Asteroids Questions
What are the top five largest asteroid impacts on earth? 1 AnswerThe Top Five largest Asteroid impacts on Earth (plus the next five): The largest asteroid (in fact a planetoid) ever to hit Earth was Theia, a Mars-sized celles... read more
How improbable is the claim of life from asteroids? 1 AnsweroHere is something I have thought about for while so I will offer my 2 cents, the solar system makes trip around the Galaxy about every 220 million years, and... read more
How do scientist prove the craters on the moon formed from asteroids and not volcanos? 1 AnswerIt is just a theory. I have watched a documentary on National Geographic Channel saying that the earth was formed from colliding asteroids. One asteroid, which ... read more
Suppose the asteroid Apophis is on a collision course with Earth, could a powerful laser or energy beam be created to destroy it? 4 Answers"By now, we have all heard about a handful of asteroids that are big enough to level a city or two and have a small but non-negligible chance of hitting Earth. ... read more -
Potentially Hazardous Asteroids
- Wikipedia: Potentially Hazardous Asteroid
- Wikipedia: Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale
- NASA: Potentially Hazardous Asteroids
- NASA: Orbits of All Known Potentially Hazardous Asteroids
- NASA: Near-Earth Asteroid Discovery Statistics
- NASA: Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards
- NASA: The Torino Impact Scale
- NASA: Current Impact Risks
- The Open University: Rocks From Space: Near-Earth Objects
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