Understanding Asteroids: Nature, History, and Exploration of These Celestial Bodies
Asteroids are rocky and metallic objects that orbit the Sun, classifying them as "minor planets." They lack atmospheres and are a diverse group within our solar system. The study of asteroids is crucial for understanding the formation of the solar system and the Earth itself, as well as assessing potential threats from near-Earth asteroids. Various types exist, including C-type, S-type, and M-type, each with unique characteristics. Their classification is based on spectral features observed through telescopes and spectroscopes. Discover their locations, sizes, shapes, and how we study these intriguing objects through space missions and laboratory analyses.
Understanding Asteroids: Nature, History, and Exploration of These Celestial Bodies
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Asteroids Murphy McGraw
What they are • Rocky and metallic objects that orbit the Sun but are too small to be considered planets • No atmospheres • Diverse group of small celestial bodies in the solar system • Known as "minor planets" • Made of rock and metal
History • 65 million years ago • 1801 – Ceres • June 30, 1908 • Theories on chemicals
Why study them? • Where are they? Could they strike earth (again?) • Mineral Resources • Formation of the Solar System and our own Earth.
How to study them • Telescopes • Spectroscopes • Rockets • Spacecrafts • Six space missions • Laboratory analysis of meteorites
Types • C-type • S-type • M-type • Rare types
How they are classified • Classified by Aledo • Composition derived from spectral features in their reflected sunlight • Inferred similarities to known meteorite types
Where they are located • Asteroid Belt Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter • Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) • Amors • Apollos • Atens • Trojans
Sizes and Shapes • All different shapes and sizes • Nearly spherical (Ceres) • Very irregular (Eros, most others) • Size ranging- very small (rocks) very large (minor planets)
Bibliography / Questions? • http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/text/asteroids.txt • http://www.nineplanets.org/asteroids.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid • http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/DawnCommunity/flashbacks/fb_12.pdf • http://www.noao.edu/education/asteroids/
