Asteroid

• Rocky metallic bodies orbiting the Sun
• Exist mostly between Mars and Jupiter
  • The asteroid belt
• Most are remnants of the initial population of the Solar System that existed before planets formed
• Contain very little easily evaporated material
• Counts
  • ~200 larger than 100 km
  • ~1000 larger than 30 km

Types

C-Type (Carbonaceous) Asteroids

• Dark with low reflectivity (3-4%)
  • Like a lump of coal
• Composed of silicates mixed with dark, organic carbon compounds
• Original solar nebula material
• Never differentiated

S-Type (Stony or Siliceous) Asteroids

• Reflectivity of ~15%
• Stony or silicate composition
• Differentiated

M-Type (Metallic) Asteroids

• Less numerous than S or C types
• Composed primarily of metal
• Differentiated

Astronomy Space