Asteroids main content.

Asteroids

Part of Hall of the Universe.

Asteroids_HERO AMNH/D. Finnin

Exhibition Text

Asteroids are small, rocky worlds with generally irregular shapes. Orbiting the Sun mainly in a sparse, broad belt between Mars and Jupiter, they are scraps left over from the formation of the planets. Most of the meteorites that hit Earth are wayward fragments from the asteroid belt.

For Educators

Topic: Astronomy

Subtopic: Planets

Keywords: Astrophysics, Planets--Origin, Solar system, Asteroids

Audience: General