wiki Word:  ASTEROID

Definition: any of the thousands of small bodies that can be as large as 1 mile in diameter that revolve around the sun and are to small to be called planets

An asteroid is a body that revolves around the sun.  The total mass of all astroids is less than the moon's total mass.  There are thousands of asteroids that have been named and placed, and thousands more are going through the process every year.  Many asteroids cannot be seen from Earth, but scientists are still going out as far as they can to make new discoveries.  Only eleven astroids have been explored by spacecrafts so far, but we know that the largest is "Ceres."   Asteroids can be found anywhere in the Solar System, but you can always find them in the Astroid Belt.  This is located between Mars and Jupiter, and is just a ring of asteroids, as shown below. 

There are many different things in space, and asteroids are just one of the millions.  When we study our solar system and the things that revolve around our sun, asteroids may come into discussion.  Many asteroids can be found in our asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter.  Another thing that comes to mind is orbits.  Any asteroid in our solar system orbits the sun.  If it didn't, it wouldn't be called an asteroid!!  An additional subject is size.  Although some people may say that asteroids can come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors, they are only partially correct.  Asteroids are found in different shapes...such as round, oval, angled, etc...and different colors...grey, brown, black, etc.  But, many people don't realize that asteroids are generally small in size.  Although it may seem big compared to something else in the solar system, like humans, they are very small compared to other aspects, such as planets and moons.

Here are just a few more interesting things about asteroids in our solar system...1. The largest asteroid is Ceres, which was discovered by G. Pizzazi in 1801.  2. Some orbiting asteroids have gone out of course and colided with other planets and moons before.  3. Asteroids are basically made of materials leftover from The Big Bang.  4.  If the total mass of all asteroids was put together into one object, the total mass would be less than 932 miles - less than the radius of our moon.  5. When an asteroid colides with earth, it's called a meteorite.  As it is entering the earth's atmosphere, it's known as a meteor.  When you're talking about the remains of an asteroid on the earth's surface, it's called a meteoroid.

Arnett, Bill. "Asteroids." Nine Planets. 26 Feb 2006. 29 Apr 2008 <http://www.nineplanets.org/asteroids.html>. 

The Free Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. "Asteroid." Wikipedia. 2008. 30 Apr 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid>.

Hamilton, Calvin J.. "Asteroid Introduction." Solar Views. 2002. View the Solar System. 30 Apr 2008 <http://www.solarviews.com/eng/asteroid.htm>.

 Some of this information also came from past experiences in both Mrs. Flynt's, Mr. Pettey's, and other science classes that I have taken in the past.

 Name (First Name and Last Initial)

Class Period

 Jordan L.

3rd Period 

 Date

Status                  

 April 29th, 2008

 Started

 May 10th, 2008

 Completed

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