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On average the distance between the asteroids is about 965,600 km (600,000 miles), [68] [69] although this varies among asteroid families and smaller undetected asteroids might be even closer. The total mass of the asteroid belt is estimated to be 2.39 × 10 21 kg, which is 3% of the mass of the Moon. [ 2 ]
The asteroid and comet belts orbit the Sun from the inner rocky planets into outer parts of the Solar System, interstellar space. [16] [17] [18] An astronomical unit, or AU, is the distance from Earth to the Sun, which is approximately 150 billion meters (93 million miles). [19]
Apollo asteroid, Mars-crosser asteroid, aka 2004 JN 13: Near-Earth asteroids between the Main Asteroid Belt and Jupiter's zone of influence: Near-Earth asteroids between Jupiter's and Saturn's zones of influence: Near-Earth asteroids between Saturn's and Uranus' zones of influence: 1999 XS 35: 17.915: Apollo asteroid, Damocloid asteroid, Mars ...
Asteroids are given minor planet numbers, but not all minor planets are asteroids. Minor planet numbers are also given to objects of the Kuiper belt , which is similar to the asteroid belt but farther out (around 30–60 AU), whereas asteroids are mostly between 2–3 AU from the Sun or at the orbit of Jupiter 5 AU from the Sun.
This list includes few examples since there are about 589 asteroids in the asteroid belt with a measured radius between 20 and 49 km. [162] Many thousands of objects of this size range have yet to be discovered in the trans-Neptunian region.
Below are the descriptions of the three largest bodies in the asteroid belt. They are all considered to be relatively intact protoplanets, a precursor stage before becoming a fully-formed planet (see List of exceptional asteroids): [143] [144] [145] Ceres (2.55–2.98 AU) is the only dwarf planet in the asteroid belt. [146]
Kuiper belt (>1,000) (scale in AU; epoch as of January 2015; # of objects in parentheses) These Solar System minor planets are the furthest from the Sun as of December 2021. The objects have been categorized by their approximate current distance from the Sun, and not by the calculated aphelion of their orbit. The list changes over time because ...
intermediate main-belt (2.5 AU < a < 2.82 AU) outer main-belt (a > 2.82 AU) A plot of inner solar system asteroids and planets as of 2006 May 9, in a manner that exposes the Kirkwood gaps. Similar to the position plot, planets (with trajectories) are orange, Jupiter being the outer most in this view. Various asteroid classes are colour coded ...