Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Eros is an S-type asteroid in near-Earth orbit, known for being one of the largest such asteroids. It was extensively studied by NASA's NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Eros was the first asteroid orbited by a spacecraft and the first to have a spacecraft land on it.
It measures approximately 34 kilometers in length and 11 kilometers in width.
Eros has an irregular shape and its surface is covered with craters, grooves, and large boulders.
The NEAR Shoemaker mission provided detailed images and data about Eros' composition, including its mineral content which is similar to that of stony meteorites.
Eros orbits the Sun at an average distance ranging between 1.13 AU and 1.78 AU.
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Related terms
NEAR Shoemaker: A NASA space mission aimed at studying the near-Earth asteroid Eros.
S-type Asteroid: A type of asteroid composed mainly of silicate minerals and nickel-iron.
Near-Earth Object (NEO): An asteroid or comet with an orbit that brings it into proximity with Earth.