Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Where are Trojan asteroids found in the solar system?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Asteroid
This rock would take out more than just a T. rex.
Trojan asteroids are small bodies that occupy stable Lagrangian points in a planet's orbit around the Sun. These points, designated L4 and L5, are gravitationally stable positions that lead (L4) and trail (L5) a planet by 60° in its orbital plane.12
While originally discovered in association with Jupiter, the term "Trojan" is now applied to objects found at the Lagrangian points of other planets as well. Astronomers have identified Trojan asteroids associated with several bodies in the solar system:12
- Jupiter: The largest known population, with thousands of asteroids located near its L4 and L5 points.12
- Mars: Several asteroids have been found librating (oscillating) about its Lagrangian points.12
- Neptune: Numerous Trojans have been discovered, primarily associated with its L4 point.12
- Earth: The first Earth Trojan, 2010 TK7, was discovered in 2010 at its L4 point.12
- Uranus: The first Uranus Trojan was identified in 2011 at its L4 point.12
Additionally, while Trojans of Saturn have not been found, objects are known to librate about the Lagrangian points of the systems formed by Saturn and its moons Tethys and Dione.12