Asteroid
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Asteroid
Asteroid (pronunciation: /ˈastəˌroid/) is a term used in the field of Astronomy to describe a small, rocky object that orbits the Sun. Unlike planets, asteroids are much smaller in size and are often irregularly shaped due to their lack of sufficient gravity to become spherical.
Etymology
The term "Asteroid" is derived from the Greek words "astēr" (ἀστήρ), meaning "star", and "-eidos" (εἶδος), meaning "form" or "shape". The term was coined to describe these objects because they appear as small star-like points of light in the sky.
Related Terms
- Meteoroid: A small particle from an asteroid or comet orbiting the sun.
- Meteor: A meteoroid that is observed as it burns up in the Earth's atmosphere - a shooting star.
- Meteorite: A meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands upon the Earth's surface.
- Comet: A celestial object composed of ice and rock with an orbit that can bring it into close proximity to the Sun, causing its ice to sublimate and create a visible coma or tail.
- Asteroid Belt: The region of space located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids are found.
See Also
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