The Secret Lives of Asteroids

Asteroids are fascinating, rocky objects that orbit our Sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. These space rocks come in various shapes and sizes, some as small as a pebble and others as large as a small moon. They tell us stories about the early days of our solar system, as they have remained largely unchanged for billions of years. Studying them can give clues about how our planets formed and what materials were present in the young solar system.

Did you know that some asteroids have moons of their own? These tiny satellites can orbit their parent asteroids, creating a miniature solar system right in our cosmic backyard! Scientists use spacecraft to visit these intriguing objects, like NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, which returned samples from the asteroid Bennu. By examining these samples, we can learn more about the building blocks of life.

Asteroids sometimes leave their home in the belt and travel closer to Earth. While most pass by safely, studying their paths and compositions helps us understand our planet's safety and the potential resources asteroids could provide for future space exploration.