Legacy Astronomical Images > Solar System Series > Asteroids Unit

Description

There are about 104 to 106 asteroids located in the asteroid "belt" between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, at a distance of 2-3 astronomical units (A.U.) from the Sun. Asteroids are thought to be "failed" planets which may occasionally collide with the Moon, the other planets, or one another.

Collection Items

GBT-Arecibo Image of Asteroid 2001 EC16
Description: This is a radar image of near Earth asteroid "2001 EC16" made by transmitting a signal at 13 cm wavelength from Arecibo and using the GBT to detect the reflection off the asteroid. The asteroid is roughly 100 meters in size and was only 0.02 AU away…

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