Our Solar System: Asteroids of the Asteroid Belt

433 Eros, an Asteroid The asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter, contains the vast majority of asteroids in the inner Solar System. There is one dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, called Ceres, which is about 950 km in diameter and accounts for about a third of the total mass within the belt. Everything else is smaller, ranging down to the size of dust particles. Although there is room between Mars and Jupiter for another full planet, Jupiter's immense gravitational influence prevented one from forming there when the Solar System first began.

In the articles below, learn more about the asteroid belt, asteroids in general, the history of asteroids in astronomy, and our modern space exploration programs to the belt and beyond. Also find ideas for lesson plans and science projects about the asteroid belt, and tips for how to handle asteroids in a multitude of games.

Formation and Examples of Protoplanets Protoplanets are like small planets; in fact, they are a smaller version of a dwarf planet. One example of a dwarf planet is Pluto. Astronomers believe that protoplanets objects...	Nothing But the Facts About the Asteroid Belt The Asteroid belt occupies the space between Mars and Jupiter where theory says there should be a 5th planet. Instead, these chunks of rock fill this void and give us a unique look...
When the Asteroid Belt Was Discovered When was the asteroid belt first discovered? A number of different scientists and astronomers contributed to the understanding of what we now know as the asteroid belt. While some...	Why Pluto Is No Longer A Planet Pluto, the ninth planet from our Sun, has been demoted to a 'Dwarf Planet' and more recently reclassified as a "Plutoid". There are several reasons why the IAU has removed...

When the Asteroid Belt Was Discovered

When was the asteroid belt first discovered? A number of different scientists and astronomers contributed to the understanding of what we now know as the asteroid belt. While some early researchers...

Nothing But the Facts About the Asteroid Belt

The Asteroid belt occupies the space between Mars and Jupiter where theory says there should be a 5th planet. Instead, these chunks of rock fill this void and give us a unique look into the origin of planets...

Solar System Science Project to Make with the Kids

The time may come when you need a great science project idea either for school or just for fun at home. One of the easiest and most fun projects to undertake is to make a Solar System at home with your...

A Guide to the Inner Planets of Our Solar System

Looking for information on the inner planets of our solar system? Which planets and what is their order from the Sun? Read on to find out about Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars....

Nothing But the Facts about the Solar System:

Amazing and interesting facts about Solar system....

Asteroid Missions of NASA's NEAR Program

The space race began as a political sprint to become the most impressive superpower in the new world order following World War II. The moon was the prize; asteroids had little cache...

Solar System Science Project to Make with the Kids

The time may come when you need a great science project idea either for school or just for fun at home. One of the easiest and most fun projects to undertake is to make a Solar System...