Starguide - A Practical Guide to Astro-Photography

An asteroid is a small, rocky or metallic object orbiting the Sun. 

Asteroids are usually defined as being larger than 1 meter (3.28 feet) in diameter. Free- floating rocky objects smaller than asteroids are called meteoroids, and those larger than asteroids (large enough to become round through hydrostatic equilibrium) are called dwarf planets. Most asteroids are located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but some come near to or cross Earth’s orbit. 

Asteroids are important to study because they are leftover planet-building materials from the birth of our Solar System. Unlike Earth rocks shaped by eons of weathering and geologic activity, asteroids have remained largely unchanged, making them time capsules that can teach us about the origin and evolution of our Solar System. Missions like OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2 have brought samples from asteroids back to Earth for us to study.

Other free floating objects in our Solar system:

• Comet Definition
• Meteorites Definition
• Meteoroide Definition
• Meteor Definition

Reference: Asteroids vs comets vs… | The Planetary Society

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