Asteroid belt

Definition

The asteroid belt is a region of space located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where the majority of asteroids in our solar system are found. It contains a vast number of irregularly shaped bodies composed mostly of rock and metal.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The asteroid belt contains millions of asteroids, but it is mostly empty space with large distances between individual objects.
2. Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt, is classified as a dwarf planet.
3. The total mass of the asteroid belt is estimated to be about 4% that of Earth's Moon.
4. Asteroids within the belt range in size from tiny dust particles to objects approximately 940 kilometers (580 miles) in diameter.
5. Jupiter's gravitational influence helps maintain the structure and location of the asteroid belt by preventing the material from coalescing into a planet.

Review Questions

• Where is the asteroid belt located within our solar system?
• What is Ceres, and how does it relate to the asteroid belt?
• How does Jupiter influence the structure and dynamics of the asteroid belt?

Related terms

Asteroid:

A small rocky body orbiting the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Dwarf Planet:

A celestial body that orbits the Sun and has enough mass for its gravity to form it into an ellipsoidal shape but has not cleared its orbital path of other debris.

Kuiper Belt:

A region beyond Neptune's orbit containing many small icy bodies; similar to but distinct from the asteroid belt.