asteroid belt
Quick Summary
The asteroid belt is a region in space located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, where most asteroids are found. Asteroids are small, rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, ranging in size up to about 1,000 km (600 miles) in diameter. They are considered "small bodies" in the solar system, distinct from planets and dwarf planets.123
The asteroid belt is thought to be composed of remnant material from the solar system's formation that never coalesced into a planet due to gravitational interactions with Jupiter. Collisions between asteroids have also shaped the belt over time, creating asteroid families. While most asteroids reside in the main belt, some groups are found in other regions, such as the Hungaria group and outer-belt asteroids.4567
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
astronomyInvestigations of the smaller bodies…ecliptic and move in the asteroid belt, between 2.3 and 3.3 AU from the Sun. Because some asteroids travel in orbits that can bring them close to Earth, there is a possibility of a collision that could have devastating results (see Earth impact hazard).
Read More…ecliptic and move in the asteroid belt, between 2.3 and 3.3 AU from the Sun. Because some asteroids travel in orbits that can bring them close to Earth, there is a possibility of a collision that could have devastating results (see Earth impact hazard).
Read More
small bodyPopulations…orbits include (1) the main asteroid belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, (2) the gravitationally stable points (Lagrangian points) along the orbital paths of Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, Neptune, and Earth where objects called Trojan asteroids are clustered (see celestial mechanics: The restricted
Read More…orbits include (1) the main asteroid belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, (2) the gravitationally stable points (Lagrangian points) along the orbital paths of Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, Neptune, and Earth where objects called Trojan asteroids are clustered (see celestial mechanics: The restricted
Read More