List of exceptional asteroids

Last updated

VLT/SPHERE images of most asteroids > 210 km in diameter to scale. Deconvolved with MISTRAL algorithm. Main-belt asteroids > 200 km that were not imaged are (451) Patientia, (65) Cybele and (107) Camilla. Trojan (624) Hektor may also be in this size range. VLT asteroid images aa41781-21 (Figure 1a).pdf
VLT/SPHERE images of most asteroids > 210 km in diameter to scale. Deconvolved with MISTRAL algorithm. Main-belt asteroids > 200 km that were not imaged are (451) Patientia, (65) Cybele and (107) Camilla. Trojan (624) Hektor may also be in this size range.
VLT/SPHERE images of a large number of asteroids 100 to 210 km in diameter, to scale. (10) Hygiea, (31) Euphrosyne and (8) Flora have collisional families; all three are round due to having re-coalesced after being disrupted. VLT asteroid images aa41781-21 (Figure 1b).pdf
VLT/SPHERE images of a large number of asteroids 100 to 210 km in diameter, to scale. (10) Hygiea, (31) Euphrosyne and (8) Flora have collisional families; all three are round due to having re-coalesced after being disrupted.

The following is a collection of lists of asteroids of the Solar System that are exceptional in some way, such as their size or orbit. For the purposes of this article, "asteroid" refers to minor planets out to the orbit of Neptune, and includes the dwarf planet 1 Ceres, the Jupiter trojans and the centaurs, but not trans-Neptunian objects (objects in the Kuiper belt, scattered disc or inner Oort cloud). For a complete list of minor planets in numerical order, see List of minor planets.

Contents

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. Also, comets are not typically included under minor planet numbers, and have their own naming conventions.

Asteroids are given a unique sequential identifying number once their orbit is precisely determined. Prior to this, they are known only by their systematic name or provisional designation, such as 1950 DA.

Physical characteristics

Largest by diameter

Estimating the sizes of asteroids from observations is difficult due to their irregular shapes, varying albedo, and small angular diameter. Observations by the Very Large Telescope of most large asteroids were published 2019–2021. [1] [2]

NamePicture Diameter (km)
(geometric mean)
Dimensions (km)Mean distance
from Sun (in AU)
Inclination (°)Date discoveredDiscoverer Class
1 Ceres
Ceres - RC3 - Haulani Crater (22381131691) (cropped).jpg
939.4±0.2964.4 × 964.2 × 891.82.76610.6January 1, 1801 Piazzi, G. G
4 Vesta
Vesta in natural color.jpg
525.4±0.2572.6 × 557.2 × 446.4 ± 0.22.3627.14March 29, 1807 Olbers, H. W. V
2 Pallas
Potw1749a Pallas crop.png
511±4 [1] 568×530×4502.77334.9March 28, 1802 Olbers, H. W. B
10 Hygiea
SPHERE image of Hygiea.jpg
433±8 [1] 450×430×4243.1395.1April 12, 1849 de Gasparis, A. C
704 Interamnia
704 Interamnia VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
332±5 [1] 362×348×3103.06217.3October 2, 1910 Cerulli, V. F
52 Europa
52 Europa VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
319±4 [1] 378×336×2553.0957.48February 4, 1858 Goldschmidt, H. C
511 Davida
511 Davida VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
298±4 [1] 359×293×2533.16815.9May 30, 1903 Dugan, R. S. C
87 Sylvia
87 Sylvia VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
271±5 [1] 363×249×191
or 374×248×194
3.48510.9May 16, 1866 Pogson, N. R. X
15 Eunomia
15 Eunomia VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
270±3 [1] 357×255×2122.64311.75July 29, 1851 de Gasparis, A. S
31 Euphrosyne
31 Euphrosyne VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
268±4 [1] 294×280×2483.14926.3September 1, 1854 Ferguson, J. C
65 Cybele
000065-asteroid shape model (65) Cybele.png
263±3297 × 291 × 2133.4393.56March 8, 1861 Tempel, E. W. C
624 Hektor
Hektor & Skamandrios 2006 Jul 16.PNG
256±12
(if bilobe)
403 × 2015.23518.66February 10, 1907 Kopff, A. D
3 Juno
3 Juno VLT (2021).png
254±2 [1] 288×250×2252.67212.98September 1, 1804 Harding, K. L. S
451 Patientia 254±33.05915.2December 4, 1899 Charlois, A.
107 Camilla
107Camilla (Lightcurve Inversion).png
254±12 [3] 3.47610November 17, 1868 Pogson, N. R. C
324 Bamberga
Potw1749a Bamberga crop.png
227±3 [1] 234×224×2252.68411.1February 25, 1892 Palisa, J. C
16 Psyche
16 Psyche VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
223±3 [1] 279×232×189 ± 10%2.9243.1March 17, 1852 de Gasparis, A. M
88 Thisbe
88 Thisbe VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
218±3 [1] 255×232×1932.7695.22June 15, 1866 Peters, C. H. F. B
48 Doris
48 Doris VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
215±3 [1] 257×211×1853.1086.55September 19, 1857 Goldschmidt, H. C
19 Fortuna
19 Fortuna VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
211±2 [1] 225×205×1952.4421.57August 22, 1852 Hind, J. R. G
121 Hermione
121Hermione (Lightcurve Inversion).png
209±5? [4] 3.4577.6May 12, 1872 Watson, J. C. C
24 Themis
24 Themis VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
208±3 [1] 232×220×1763.1360.76April 5, 1853 de Gasparis, A. C
94 Aurora
94Aurora (Lightcurve Inversion).png
205±4 ? (< 200 km) [1] 225×1733.1607.97September 6, 1867 Watson, J. C. C
29 Amphitrite
Potw1749a Amphitrite crop.png
204±2 [1] 222×209×1832.5546.08March 1, 1854 Marth, A. S
13 Egeria
13 Egeria VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
202±3 [1] 238×199×1822.57616.54November 2, 1850 de Gasparis, A. G
130 Elektra
130 Elektra VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
199±2 [1] 262×205×1643.12722.78February 17, 1873 C. H. F. Peters C
7 Iris
Iris asteroid eso.jpg
199±10 [1] 268×234×180 [5] 2.3865.52August 13, 1847 Hind, J. R. S
6 Hebe
6hebe.png
195±3 [1] 205x185x1702.42614.75July 1, 1847 Hencke, K. L. S
375 Ursula 192±43.12615.94September 18, 1893 Charlois, A. C
702 Alauda 191±23.19520.59July 16, 1910 Helffrich, J. C/B
45 Eugenia
45 Eugenia VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
188±2 [1] 252×191×1382.7206.61June 27, 1857 Goldschmidt, H. F
41 Daphne
41 Daphne VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
187±13 [1] 235×183×1532.76515.77May 22, 1856 Goldschmidt, H. C
423 Diotima
423Diotima (Lightcurve Inversion).png
176±43.06511.23December 7, 1896 Charlois, A. C
259 Aletheia 174±13.13510.81June 28, 1886 Peters, C. H. F. C/P/X
372 Palma
372Palma (Lightcurve Inversion).png
174±33.14923.83August 19, 1893 Charlois, A. B
9 Metis
9 Metis VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
173±2 [1] 222×182×1302.3855.58April 25, 1848 Graham, A. S
532 Herculina
532Herculina (Lightcurve Inversion).png
168±12.77216.31April 20, 1904 Wolf, M. S
354 Eleonora
354 Eleonora VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
165±3 [1] 191×162×1442.79818.4January 17, 1893 Auguste Charlois S
128 Nemesis
128 Nemesis VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
163±5 [1] 178×163×1472.7516.25November 25, 1872 Watson, J. C. C
(4:1 resonance)[sort by 'Mean Distance from Sun' to place in table]2.06(defines inner edge of main belt)
(3:1 resonance)2.50(separates inner from middle belt)
(5:2 resonance)2.82(separates middle from outer belt)
(7:3 resonance)2.95
(2:1 resonance)3.27(defines outermost belt)
(1:1 resonance)5.20(Trojan asteroids defines outer edge of main belt)

The number of bodies grows rapidly as the size decreases. Based on IRAS data there are about 140 main-belt asteroids with a diameter greater than 120 km, [6] which is approximately the transition point between surviving primordial asteroids and fragments thereof. [7] [8] For a more complete list, see List of Solar System objects by size.

The inner asteroid belt (defined as the region interior to the 3:1 Kirkwood gap at 2.50 AU) has few large asteroids. Of those in the above list, only 4 Vesta, 19 Fortuna, 6 Hebe, 7 Iris and 9 Metis orbit there. (Sort table by mean distance.)

Most massive

Below are the sixteen most-massive measured asteroids. [9] Ceres, at a third the estimated mass of the asteroid belt, is half again as massive as the next fifteen put together. The masses of asteroids are estimated from perturbations they induce on the orbits of other asteroids, except for asteroids that have been visited by spacecraft or have an observable moon, where a direct mass calculation is possible. Different sets of astrometric observations lead to different mass determinations; the biggest problem is accounting for the aggregate perturbations caused by all of the smaller asteroids. [10]

Comparative masses of the asteroids with nominal masses > 20×1018 kg, assuming a total Main Belt mass of 2394×1018 kg. The mass of Herculina is particularly uncertain.
Asteroids with nominal mass > 10×1018 kg
NameMass
(×1018 kg)
PrecisionApprox.
proportion
of all
asteroids
1 Ceres 938.350.001% (938.34–938.36)39.2%
4 Vesta 259.0760.0004% (259.075–259.077)10.8%
2 Pallas 2041.5% (201–207)8.5%
10 Hygiea 878% (80–94)3.6%
704 Interamnia 3514% (30–40)1.5%
15 Eunomia 306% (29–32)1.3%
3 Juno 279% (25–29)1.1%
511 Davida 2727% (19–34)1.1%
52 Europa 2416% (20–28)1.0%
16 Psyche 2313% (20–26)1.0%
532 Herculina ≈ 23 ?≈ 1%
31 Euphrosyne 1718% (14–19)0.7%
65 Cybele 1512% (1317)0.6%
87 Sylvia 14.760.4% (14.70–14.82) [11] 0.6%
7 Iris 1417% (11–16)0.6%
29 Amphitrite 1316% (11–15)0.5%
6 Hebe 1220% (10–15)0.5%
88 Thisbe 1220% (9–14)0.5%
107 Camilla 11.21% (11.1–11.3) [3] 0.5%
324 Bamberga 109% (9–11)0.4%
Total1781NA75%

The proportions assume that the total mass of the asteroid belt is 2.39×1021 kg, or (12.4±1.0)×10−10M. [12]

Outside the top four, the ranking of all the asteroids is uncertain, as there is a great deal of overlap among the estimates.

The largest asteroids with an accurately measured mass, because they have been studied by the probe Dawn , are 1 Ceres with a mass of (939.3±0.5)×1018 kg, and 4 Vesta at (259.076±0.001)×1018 kg. The third-largest asteroid with an accurately measured mass, because it has moons, is 87 Sylvia at (14.76±0.06)×1018 kg. Other large asteroids with masses measured from their moons are 107 Camilla and 130 Elektra. [3] [13] [1]

For a more complete list, see List of Solar System objects by size. Other large asteroids such as 423 Diotima currently only have estimated masses. [14] [15]

Brightest from Earth

Only Vesta is regularly bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. Under ideal viewing conditions with very dark skies, a keen eye might be able to also see Ceres, as well as Pallas and Iris at their rare perihelic oppositions. [16] The following asteroids can all reach an apparent magnitude brighter than or equal to the +8.3 attained by Saturn's moon Titan at its brightest, which was discovered 145 years before the first asteroid was found owing to its closeness to the easily observed Saturn.

None of the asteroids in the outer part of the asteroid belt can ever attain this brightness. Even Hygiea and Interamnia rarely reach magnitudes of above 10.0. This is due to the different distributions of spectral types within different sections of the asteroid belt: the highest-albedo asteroids are all concentrated closer to the orbit of Mars, and much lower albedo C and D types are common in the outer belt.

Those asteroids with very high eccentricities will only reach their maximum magnitude rarely, when their perihelion is very close to a heliocentric conjunction with Earth, or (in the case of 99942 Apophis, (152680) 1998 KJ9 , (153814) 2001 WN5 , and 367943 Duende) when the asteroid passes very close to Earth.

Asteroid Magnitude
when
brightest
Semi-
major
axis
(AU)
Eccentricity
of orbit
Diameter
(km)
Year of
discovery
99942 Apophis 3.4*0.9220.1910.322004
4 Vesta 5.202.3610.0891725291807
2 Pallas 6.492.7730.2307255441802
1 Ceres 6.652.7660.0799059521801
7 Iris 6.732.3850.2314222001847
433 Eros 6.81.4580.22272534 × 11 × 111898
(153814) 2001 WN5 6.851.7110.4672070.932001
367943 Duende 7.040.9100.0893190.04 × 0.022012
6 Hebe 7.52.4250.2017261861847
3 Juno 7.52.6680.2581942331804
18 Melpomene 7.52.2960.2187081411852
(152680) 1998 KJ9 7.741.4480.6397700.51998
15 Eunomia 7.92.6430.1871812681851
8 Flora 7.92.2020.1562071281847
324 Bamberga 8.02.6820.3382522291892
1036 Ganymed 8.12.66570.533710321924
9 Metis 8.12.3870.1214411901848
192 Nausikaa 8.22.4040.2462161031879
20 Massalia 8.32.4090.1428801451852

* Apophis will only achieve that brightness on April 13, 2029. [17] [18] It typically has an apparent magnitude of 20–22.

Slowest rotators

This list contains the slowest-rotating known minor planets with a period of at least 1000 hours, or 4123 days, while most bodies have rotation periods between 2 and 20 hours. Also see Potentially slow rotators for minor planets with an insufficiently accurate period ( U < 2).

# Minor planet designation Rotation period
(hours)
Δmag Quality
(U)
Orbit or family Spectral type Diameter
(km)
Abs. mag
(H)
Refs
1. (162058) 1997 AE12 18800.62  NEO S 0.78217.9 LCDB  · List
2. 846 Lipperta 16410.302  Themis CBU:52.4110.26 LCDB  · List
3. 2440 Educatio 15610.802  Flora S 6.5113.1 LCDB  · List
4. 912 Maritima 13320.183− MBA (outer) C 82.14 9.30 LCDB  · List
5. 9165 Raup 13201.343− Hungaria S 4.6213.60 LCDB  · List
6. 1235 Schorria 12651.403 HungariaCX:5.0413.10 LCDB  · List
7. 50719 Elizabethgriffin 12560.422  Eunomia S 3.4014.65 LCDB  · List
8. (75482) 1999 XC173 1234.20.692  Vestian S2.9615.01 LCDB  · List
9. 288 Glauke 11700.903  MBA (outer)S32.2410.00 LCDB  · List
10. (39546) 1992 DT5 1167.40.802 MBA (outer) C 5.3415.09 LCDB  · List
11. 496 Gryphia 10721.253  Flora S 15.4711.61 LCDB  · List
12. 4524 Barklajdetolli 10691.262  Flora S 7.1412.90 LCDB  · List
13. 2675 Tolkien 10600.752+FloraS9.8512.20 LCDB  · List
14. (219774) 2001 YY145 1007.70.862  MBA (inner)S1.5416.43 LCDB  · List

Fastest rotators

This list contains the fastest-rotating minor planets with a period of less than 100 seconds, or 0.0277 hours. Bodies with a highly uncertain period, having a quality of less than 2, are highlighted in dark-grey. The fastest rotating bodies are all unnumbered near-Earth objects (NEOs) with a diameter of less than 100 meters (see table).

Among the numbered minor planets with an unambiguous period solution are (459872) 2014 EK24 , a 60-meter sized stony NEO with a period of 352 seconds, as well as (335433) 2005 UW163 and (60716) 2000 GD65 , two main-belt asteroids, with a diameter of 0.86 and 2.25 kilometers and a period of 1.29 and 1.95 hours, respectively (see full list ).

# Minor
planet
designation
Rotation period Δmag Quality
(U)
Orbit or
family
Spectral
type
Diameter
(km)
Abs. mag
(H)
Refs
(seconds)(hours)
1. 2014 RC 160.0043890.10n.a. NEO S 0.01226.80 LCDB  · MPC
2.2015 SV6180.004900.742 NEOS0.00927.70 LCDB  · MPC
3. 2010 JL88 250.00682950.523 NEOS0.01326.80 LCDB  · MPC
4.2017 EK300.00830.302 NEOS0.04524.10 LCDB  · MPC
5.2010 WA310.00857990.223 NEOS0.00330.00 LCDB  · MPC
6.2017 UK8310.00863091.303 NEOS0.00728.20 LCDB  · MPC
7.2016 GE1340.0094380.132 NEOS0.01426.60 LCDB  · MPC
8. 2008 HJ 430.011850.803−NEOS0.02125.80 LCDB  · MPC
9.2009 TM8430.012n.a.NEOS0.00628.40 LCDB  · MPC
10.2015 SU460.01270.202−NEOS0.02525.40 LCDB  · MPC
11.2010 SK13520.0144n.a.NEOS0.0127.40 LCDB  · MPC
12.2009 BF2570.015930.803 NEOS0.0225.90 LCDB  · MPC
13.2016 GS2660.01827250.061 NEOS0.07523.00 LCDB  · MPC
14.2010 TG19700.01939351.103 NEOS0.04923.90 LCDB  · MPC
15.2008 WA14700.0195n.a.NEOS0.07523.00 LCDB  · MPC
16.2007 KE4770.0214080.383−NEO S 0.02725.20 LCDB  · MPC
17.2000 DO8780.02171.393 NEOS0.03724.54 LCDB  · MPC
18.2014 GQ17780.02170.082−NEOS0.01127.10 LCDB  · MPC
19.2014 TV790.021900.322 NEOS0.03924.40 LCDB  · MPC
20.2000 WH10800.022210.663−NEOS0.09422.50 LCDB  · MPC
21.2012 HG2820.0227n.a.NEOS0.01227.00 LCDB  · MPC
22. 2010 TD54 830.02293170.923 NEOS0.00528.90 LCDB  · MPC
23.2010 TS19830.023n.a.NEOS0.02225.70 LCDB  · MPC
24.2009 UD840.0232460.662+NEOS0.01127.20 LCDB  · MPC
25.2014 WB366860.02380.462+NEOS0.03324.80 LCDB  · MPC
26.2015 RF36900.0250.152 NEOS0.06223.40 LCDB  · MPC
27.2015 AK45930.02580.242 NEOS0.01626.40 LCDB  · MPC
28.2010 XE11960.02658460.503 NEOS0.07523.00 LCDB  · MPC
29.2000 UK11960.0265990.282 NEOS0.02625.30 LCDB  · MPC
30.2016 RB1960.026740.182+NEOS0.00728.30 LCDB  · MPC
31.2015 CM960.02680.533−NEOS0.01826.10 LCDB  · MPC
32. 2008 TC3 970.02694091.023 NEO F 0.00430.90 LCDB  · MPC

Orbital characteristics

Retrograde

Minor planets with orbital inclinations greater than 90° (the greatest possible is 180°) orbit in a retrograde direction. As of March 2018, of the near-800,000 minor planets known, there are only 99 known retrograde minor planets (0.01% of total minor planets known). [19] In comparison, there are over 2,000 comets with retrograde orbits. This makes retrograde minor planets the rarest group of all. High-inclination asteroids are either Mars-crossers (possibly in the process of being ejected from the Solar System) or damocloids. Some of these are temporarily captured in retrograde resonance with the gas giants. [20]

Minor planet
designation
Inclination (°)First observed/
Discovery date
Condition code Obs. × arc CommentRefs
2017 UX5190.517°October 27, 2017079254 MPC
2018 SQ1390.973°September 21, 201817407 MPC
2015 TN17891.093°October 8, 2015038805 MPC
2005 SB22391.294°September 30, 2005112200Has a well-determined orbit MPC
2014 MH5591.486°June 29, 2014696 MPC
2010 EQ16991.607°March 8, 2010?15 MPC
2015 RK24591.616°September 13, 20150184680 MPC
2016 TK292.336°July 13, 201626075 MPC
(518151) 2016 FH13 93.551°March 29, 2016091561 MPC
2014 PP6993.652°August 5, 201418085 MPC
2015 BH31194.160°January 20, 2015?39 MPC
2017 OX6894.748°July 26, 20178720 MPC
2014 JJ5795.924°May 9, 2014095710 MPC
2013 HS15097.434°April 16, 2013220 MPC
2013 BL76 98.592°January 20, 201346716Has a semi-major axis of 1254 AU, giving it the third largest semi-major axis of any known minor planet MPC
2010 GW14799.835°April 14, 2010097888 MPC
2011 MM4100.482°June 24, 20110364936 MPC
2017 NM2101.295°July 6, 2017128014 MPC
2014 XS3101.381°December 8, 2014023544 MPC
2013 BN27101.828°January 17, 20131400 MPC
(528219) 2008 KV42 103.396°May 31, 20081198550 MPC
(342842) 2008 YB3 105.058°December 18, 200801608789 MPC
2016 PN66105.113°August 14, 2016063879 MPC
2010 GW64105.226°April 6, 201009072 MPC
2012 YO6106.883°December 22, 201236674 MPC
2009 DD47107.449°February 27, 2009?1584 MPC
2017 UR52108.218°October 29, 20171638 MPC
2007 VW266108.328°November 12, 200752204 MPC
2011 SP25109.074°September 20, 201133654 MPC
(471325) 2011 KT19 110.104°May 31, 20111234828 MPC
2005 TJ50110.226°October 5, 200551488 MPC
2011 OR17110.504°May 21, 201071808 MPC
2005 VX3 112.224°November 1, 20054212Semi-major axis of 837AU, but has a somewhat short 81-day observation arc for such a large orbit MPC
2017 SV13 113.243°September 17, 201742160 MPC
2016 LS114.338°June 27, 2015026688 MPC
2015 YY18118.243°December 29, 2015033454 MPC
2010 OM101118.797°July 28, 201023535 MPC
(65407) 2002 RP120 118.970°September 4, 20020648554This outer-planet crosser is a damocloid and SDO. MPC
2010 PO58121.179°August 5, 20108120 MPC
2010 LG61123.886°June 2, 20107935 MPC
(468861) 2013 LU28 125.356°June 8, 20130238336 MPC
2014 SQ339128.506°September 29, 201441334 MPC
2000 DG8 129.246°February 25, 2000242408A damocloid and SDO. Crosses all the outer planets except Neptune. Came within 0.03 AU of Ceres in 1930. [21] MPC
2016 CO264129.820°February 14, 2016023800 MPC
2013 NS11130.333°July 5, 20130143510 MPC
2005 NP82130.505°July 6, 20051662673 MPC
2006 RG1133.437°September 1, 20064750Has an orbit with a data arc of 25 days MPC
2012 YE8136.049°December 21, 201251066 MPC
2017 AX13137.204°January 2, 201731785 MPC
2009 QY6137.668°August 17, 2009143990 MPC
2016 TP93138.330°October 9, 2016?704 MPC
2016 YB13139.682°December 23, 2016150718 MPC
2019 EJ3139.758°March 4, 2019?576 MPC
2015 AO44139.934°November 27, 20140115821 MPC
(336756) 2010 NV1 140.773°July 1, 20100330022Perihelion at 9.4 AU, only 2008 KV42 has perihelion further out (154-day data arc) MPC
2011 WS41141.645°November 24, 2011?108 MPC
2010 OR1143.912°January 25, 2010135032 MPC
2010 BK118 143.914°January 30, 2010374596 Semi-major axis of 408 AU with perihelion at 6.1 AU in April 2012 (1 year data arc) MPC
(523797) 2016 NM56 144.034°November 1, 20120227052 MPC
2017 UW51144.203°October 23, 201768442 MPC
2010 CG55146.262°February 15, 20100129000 MPC
2012 HD2146.883°April 18, 2012031408 MPC
2009 YS6147.767°December 17, 20090195734 MPC
2016 VY17148.419°November 5, 20160108624 MPC
2017 QO33148.826°August 16, 2017145360 MPC
2006 EX52150.148°March 5, 2006062310q=2.58 AU and period=274 yr MPC
1999 LE31 151.816°June 12, 19992905838A damocloid, Jupiter- and Saturn-crossing minor planet. [22] MPC
2017 SN33152.044°September 19, 20177590 MPC
2018 WB1152.136°November 19, 20187351 MPC
2016 JK24152.326°March 3, 20160181965 MPC
2017 CW32152.438°February 2, 201751500 MPC
343158 Marsyas 154.367°April 29, 20090771834 NEO that sometimes has the highest relative velocity to Earth (79 km/s) of known objects that come within 0.5  AU of Earth. However, the relative velocity at 1 AU from the sun is less than 72 km/s. MPC
2013 LD16154.736°June 6, 2013014148 MPC
2021 TH165 154.924°October 11, 202132510Retrograde trans-Neptunian object close to a 3:–2 mean-motion orbital resonance with Neptune. MPC
2015 FK37155.842°March 20, 2015?748 MPC
2010 EB46156.376°March 12, 201042460 MPC
2015 XR384157.514°December 9, 201525580 MPC
2000 HE46158.535°April 29, 2000225960 MPC
2015 XX351159.092°December 9, 2015021120 MPC
2012 TL139160.027°October 9, 20123900 MPC
2019 CR160.341°February 4, 2019136993 MPC
20461 Dioretsa 160.428°June 8, 19990256779most highly inclined known minor planet from June 8, 1999, to July 13, 2004 MPC
2018 DO4160.475°February 25, 20180261726 MPC
2017 JB6160.735°May 4, 2017?6844 MPC
(523800) 2017 KZ31 161.695°June 23, 20150119280 MPC
514107 Kaʻepaokaʻawela 163.022°November 26, 2014074898A Jupiter co-orbital. First known example of a retrograde co-orbital asteroid with any of the planets. Might have an interstellar origin. MPC
Src
2006 RJ2 164.601°September 14, 200652849 MPC
2006 BZ8 165.311°January 23, 20060207459 MPC
2004 NN8165.525°July 13, 200423944Came within 0.80 AU of Saturn on 2007-Jun-05, most highly inclined known minor planet from 2004/07/13-2005/11/01 MPC
(459870) 2014 AT28 165.558°November 26, 20130186598 MPC
2016 DF2167.030°February 28, 2016?26 MPC
(330759) 2008 SO218 170.324°September 30, 200801058616 MPC
2014 UV114170.569°October 26, 2014?34 MPC
2014 CW14170.764°February 10, 201441938 MPC
2018 TL6170.919°October 5, 20187270 MPC
2016 EJ203170.988°March 11, 2016018081 MPC
2006 LM1 172.138°June 3, 2006?48Has a data arc of only 2 days, but has a very high inclination MPC
(434620) 2005 VD 172.872°November 1, 20050228965most highly inclined known minor planet from November 1, 2005, to June 1, 2013 MPC
2013 LA2 175.095°June 1, 201361075Has the highest inclination of any known minor planet MPC

^ the value given when the number of observations is multiplied by the observation arc; larger values are generally better than smaller values depending on residuals.

Highly inclined

Minor planet designation Inclination Discovery dateCommentRefs
1 Ceres 10.593°January 1, 1801most highly inclined known minor planet from January 1, 1801, to March 28, 1802 MPC
2 Pallas 34.841°March 28, 1802most highly inclined known minor planet from March 28, 1802, to October 31, 1920 MPC
944 Hidalgo 42.525°October 31, 1920most highly inclined known minor planet from October 31, 1920, to May 22, 1950 MPC
1373 Cincinnati 38.949°August 30, 1935First main-belt asteroid discovered to have an inclination greater than 2 Pallas. Most highly inclined known main-belt asteroid from August 30, 1935, to June 14, 1980 MPC
1580 Betulia 52.083°May 22, 1950most highly inclined known minor planet from May 22, 1950, to July 4, 1973 MPC
2938 Hopi 41.436°June 14, 1980Most highly inclined known main-belt asteroid from June 14, 1980, to September 20, 2000 MPC
(5496) 1973 NA 67.999°July 4, 1973An Apollo asteroid, Mars-crosser and +1 km NEO; most highly inclined known minor planet from 4 July 1973 to 8 August 1999. MPC
(22653) 1998 QW2 45.794°August 17, 1998Most highly inclined known main-belt asteroid from August 17, 1998, to October 19, 1998 MPC
(88043) 2000 UE110 51.998°October 29, 2000First main-belt asteroid discovered and numbered to have an inclination greater than 50°. MPC
(138925) 2001 AU43 72.132°January 4, 2001A Mars-crosser and near-Earth object. MPC
(127546) 2002 XU93 77.904°December 4, 2002A damocloid and SDO. It is almost a Uranus outer-grazer. MPC
(196256) 2003 EH1 70.790°March 6, 2003A Mars-crosser, near-Earth object and Jupiter inner-grazer. MPC
1998 UQ164.281°October 19, 1998Most highly inclined known main-belt asteroid from 1998/10/19-2007/11/01 MPC
(467372) 2004 LG 70.725°June 9, 2004A Mercury- through Mars-crosser and near-Earth object. MPC
2007 VR668.659°November 1, 2007Most highly inclined known main-belt asteroid from November 1, 2007, to September 26, 2008 MPC
2008 SB8574.247°September 26, 2008Most highly inclined known main-belt asteroid from September 26, 2008, to March 8, 2010[ citation needed ] MPC
2010 EQ16991.606°March 8, 2010Most highly inclined known main-belt asteroid (orbit is not well-known)[ citation needed ] MPC

Trojans

Record-setting close approaches to Earth

Viewed in detail

Spacecraft targets

Name Diameter
(km)
DiscoveredSpacecraftYear(s)Closest
approach
(km)
Closest
approach
(asteroid radii)
NotesLandmark(s)
1 Ceres 939.4January 1, 1801 Dawn 2014–present3750.80Dawn took its first "close up" picture of Ceres in December 2014, and entered orbit in March 2015First likely dwarf planet visited by a spacecraft, largest asteroid visited by a spacecraft
4 Vesta 525.4March 29, 1807 Dawn 2011–20122100.76Dawn broke orbit on 5 September 2012 and headed to Ceres, where it arrived in March 2015First "big four" asteroid visited by a spacecraft, largest asteroid visited by a spacecraft at the time
21 Lutetia 120×100×80November 15, 1852 Rosetta 20103,16264.9Flyby on 10 July 2010Largest asteroid visited by a spacecraft at the time
243 Ida 56×24×21September 29, 1884 Galileo 19932,390152Flyby; discovered Dactyl First asteroid with a moon visited by a spacecraft, largest asteroid visited by spacecraft at the time
253 Mathilde 66×48×46November 12, 1885 NEAR Shoemaker 19971,21249.5FlybyLargest asteroid visited by a spacecraft at the time
433 Eros 13×13×33August 13, 1898 NEAR Shoemaker 1998–2001001998 flyby; 2000 orbited (first asteroid studied from orbit); 2001 landingFirst asteroid landing, first asteroid orbited by a spacecraft, first near-Earth asteroid (NEA) visited by a spacecraft
951 Gaspra 18.2×10.5×8.9July 30, 1916 Galileo 19911,600262Flybyfirst asteroid visited by a spacecraft
2867 Šteins 4.6November 4, 1969 Rosetta 2008800302FlybyFirst asteroid visited by the ESA
4179 Toutatis 4.5×~2February 10, 1934 Chang'e 2 20123.20.70Flyby [23] Closest asteroid flyby, first asteroid visited by China
5535 Annefrank 4.0March 23, 1942 Stardust 20023,0791230Flyby
9969 Braille 2.2×0.6May 27, 1992 Deep Space 1 19992612.7Flyby; followed by flyby of Comet Borrelly
25143 Itokawa 0.5×0.3×0.2September 26, 1998 Hayabusa 200500Landed; returned dust samples to EarthFirst asteroid with returned samples, smallest asteroid visited by a spacecraft, first asteroid visited by a non-NASA spacecraft
162173 Ryugu 1.0May 10, 1999 Hayabusa2 2018–201900Multiple landers/rovers, sample returnFirst rovers on an asteroid
101955 Bennu 0.492September 11, 1999 OSIRIS-REx 2018–202100Sample returnSmallest asteroid orbited, potentially hazardous object
65803 Didymos 0.492September 11, 1999 DART / LICIACube 20221.23.2Impactor/flybyMoon Dimorphos impacted by DART spacecraft, flown by LICIACube
152830 Dinkinesh 0.790October 15, 1999 Lucy 20234251076Flyby; first of 8 planned asteroid flybysSmallest main-belt asteroid visited to date; discovered first contact binary satellite Selam

Surface resolved by telescope or lightcurve

Multiple systems resolved by telescope

Comet-like activity

Disintegration

Timeline

Landmark asteroids

Name Diameter (km)DiscoveredComment
1 Ceres 939January 1, 1801First asteroid discovered
5 Astraea 117December 8, 1845First asteroid discovered after original four (38 years later)
20 Massalia 136September 19, 1852First asteroid named after city
45 Eugenia 202June 27, 1857First asteroid named after living person
87 Sylvia 261May 16, 1866First asteroid known to have more than one moon (determined in 2005)
90 Antiope 80×80October 1, 1866Double asteroid with two nearly equal components; its double nature was discovered using adaptive optics in 2000
92 Undina 1261867 July 7Created in one of the largest asteroid-on-asteroid collisions of the past 100 million years
216 Kleopatra 217×94April 10, 1880Metallic asteroid with "ham-bone" shape and 2 satellites
243 Ida 56×24×21September 29, 1884First asteroid known to have a moon (determined in 1994)
243 Ida I Dactyl 1.4February 17, 1994Moon of 243 Ida, first confirmed satellite of an asteroid
279 Thule 127October 25, 1888Orbits in the asteroid belt's outermost edge in a 3:4 orbital resonance with Jupiter
288 Glauke 32February 20, 1890Exceptionally slow rotation period of about 1200 hours (2 months)
323 Brucia 36December 22, 1891First asteroid discovered by means of astrophotography rather than visual observation
433 Eros 13×13×33August 13, 1898First near-Earth asteroid discovered and the second largest; first asteroid to be detected by radar; first asteroid orbited and landed upon
482 Petrina 23.3March 3, 1902First asteroid named after dog
490 Veritas 115September 3, 1902Created in one of the largest asteroid-on-asteroid collisions of the past 100 million years
588 Achilles 135.5February 22, 1906First Jupiter trojan discovered
624 Hektor 370×195February 10, 1907Largest Jupiter trojan discovered
719 Albert 2.4October 3, 1911Last numbered asteroid to be lost then recovered
935 Clivia 6.4September 7, 1920First asteroid named after flower
1090 Sumida 13February 20, 1928Lowest numbered asteroid with no English Wikipedia entry
1125 China 27October 30, 1957First asteroid discovery to be credited to an institution rather than a person
1566 Icarus 1.4June 27, 1949First Mercury crosser discovered
1902 Shaposhnikov 97April 18, 1972Last ~100+ km in diameter asteroid discovered
2309 Mr. Spock 21.3August 16, 1971First asteroid named after cat
3200 Phaethon 5October 11, 1983First asteroid discovered from space; source of Geminids meteor shower.
3753 Cruithne 5October 10, 1986Unusual Earth-associated orbit
4179 Toutatis 4.5×2.4×1.9January 4, 1989Closely approached Earth on September 29, 2004
4769 Castalia 1.8×0.8August 9, 1989First asteroid to be radar-imaged in sufficient detail for 3D modeling [24]
5261 Eureka ~2–4June 20, 1990First Mars trojan (Lagrangian point L5) discovered
11885 Summanus 1.3September 25, 1990First automated discovery of a near-Earth object (NEO)
(29075) 1950 DA 1.1February 23, 1950Will approach Earth very closely in 2880, collision unlikely (1 in 8,300 or 0.012%) [25]
69230 Hermes 0.3October 28, 1937Named but not numbered until its recovery in 2003 (65 years later)
99942 Apophis 0.3June 19, 2004First asteroid to rank greater than one on the Torino Scale (it was ranked at 2, then 4; now down to 0). Previously better known by its provisional designation 2004 MN4.
(433953) 1997 XR2 0.23December 4, 1997First asteroid to rank greater than zero on the impact-risk Torino Scale (it was ranked 1; now at 0)
1998 KY26 0.030June 2, 1998Approached within 800,000 km of Earth
2002 AA29 0.1January 9, 2002Unusual Earth-associated orbit
2004 FH 0.030March 15, 2004Discovered before it approached within 43,000 km of Earth on March 18, 2004.
2008 TC3 ~0.003October 6, 2008First Earth-impactor to be spotted before impact (on October 7, 2008)
2010 TK7 ~0.3October 2010First Earth trojan to be discovered
2014 RC ~0.017September 1, 2014Asteroid with fastest rotation: 16.2 seconds

Numbered minor planets that are also comets

NameCometary nameComment
2060 Chiron 95P/ChironFirst centaur discovered in 1977, later identified to exhibit cometary behaviour. Also one of two minor planets (excluding dwarf planets) known to have a ring system
4015 Wilson–Harrington 107P/Wilson–HarringtonIn 1992, it was realized that asteroid 1979 VA's orbit matched it with the positions of the lost comet Wilson–Harrington (1949 III)
7968 Elst–Pizarro 133P/Elst–PizarroDiscovered in 1996 as a comet, but orbitally matched to asteroid 1979 OW7
60558 Echeclus 174P/EcheclusCentaur discovered in 2000, comet designation assigned in 2006
118401 LINEAR 176P/LINEAR (LINEAR 52) Main-belt cometasteroid discovered to have a coma on November 26, 2005

The above table lists only numbered asteroids that are also comets. Note there are several cases where a non-numbered minor planets turned out to be a comet, e.g. C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS), which was provisionally designated 2001 OG108.

Minor planets that were misnamed and renamed

In earlier times, before the modern numbering and naming rules were in effect, asteroids were sometimes given numbers and names before their orbits were precisely known. And in a few cases duplicate names were given to the same object (with modern use of computers to calculate and compare orbits with old recorded positions, this type of error no longer occurs). This led to a few cases where asteroids had to be renamed. [26]

Minor planet nameDescription
330 Adalberta An object discovered March 18, 1892, by Max Wolf with provisional designation "1892 X" was named 330 Adalberta, but was lost and never recovered. In 1982 it was determined that the observations leading to the designation of 1892 X were stars, and the object never existed. The name and number 330 Adalberta was then reused for another asteroid discovered by Max Wolf on February 2, 1910, which had the provisional designation A910 CB.
525 Adelaide and 1171 Rusthawelia The object A904 EB discovered March 14, 1904, by Max Wolf was named 525 Adelaide and was subsequently lost. Later, the object 1930 TA discovered October 3, 1930, by Sylvain Arend was named 1171 Rusthawelia. In those pre-computer days, it was not realized until 1958 that these were one and the same object. The name Rusthawelia was kept (and discovery credited to Arend); the name 525 Adelaide was reused for the object 1908 EKa discovered October 21, 1908, by Joel Hastings Metcalf.
715 Transvaalia and 933 Susi The object 1911 LX discovered April 22, 1911, by H. E. Wood was named 715 Transvaalia. On April 23, 1920, the object 1920 GZ was discovered and named 933 Susi. In 1928 it was realized that these were one and the same object. The name Transvaalia was kept, and the name and number 933 Susi was reused for the object 1927 CH discovered February 10, 1927, by Karl Reinmuth.
864 Aase and 1078 Mentha The object A917 CB discovered February 13, 1917, by Max Wolf was named 864 Aase, and the object 1926 XB discovered December 7, 1926, by Karl Reinmuth was named 1078 Mentha. In 1958 it was discovered that these were one and the same object. In 1974, this was resolved by keeping the name 1078 Mentha and reusing the name and number 864 Aase for the object 1921 KE, discovered September 30, 1921, by Karl Reinmuth.
1095 Tulipa and 1449 Virtanen The object 1928 DC discovered February 24, 1928, by Karl Reinmuth was named 1095 Tulipa, and the object 1938 DO discovered February 20, 1938, by Yrjö Väisälä was named 1449 Virtanen. In 1966 it was discovered that these were one and the same object. The name 1449 Virtanen was kept and the name and number 1095 Tulipa was reused for the object 1926 GS discovered April 14, 1926, by Karl Reinmuth.
1125 China and 3789 Zhongguo The object 1928 UF discovered October 25, 1928, by Zhang Yuzhe (Y. C. Chang) was named 1125 China, and was later lost. Later, the object 1957 UN1 was discovered on October 30, 1957, at Purple Mountain Observatory and was initially incorrectly believed to be the rediscovery of the object 1928 UF. The name and number 1125 China were then reused for the object 1957 UN1, and 1928 UF remained lost. In 1986, the object 1986 QK1 was discovered and proved to be the real rediscovery of 1928 UF. This object was given the new number and name 3789 Zhongguo. Note Zhongguo is the Mandarin Chinese word for "China", in pinyin transliteration.
Asteroid 1317 and 787 Moskva The object 1914 UQ discovered April 20, 1914, by G. N. Neujmin was named 787 Moskva (and retains that name to this day). The object 1934 FD discovered on March 19, 1934, by C. Jackson was given the sequence number 1317. In 1938, G. N. Neujmin found that asteroid 1317 and 787 Moskva were one and the same object. The sequence number 1317 was later reused for the object 1935 RC discovered on September 1, 1935, by Karl Reinmuth; that object is now known as 1317 Silvretta.

Landmark names

Asteroids were originally named after female mythological figures. Over time the rules loosened.

First asteroid with non-Classical and non-Latinized name: 64 Angelina (in honor of a research station)

First asteroid with a non-feminine name: 139 Juewa (ambiguous) or 141 Lumen

First asteroid with a non-feminized man's name: 903 Nealley

Lowest-numbered unnamed asteroid (As of 2021): (4596) 1981 QB

Landmark numbers

Many landmark numbers had specially chosen names for asteroids, and there was some debate about whether Pluto should have received number 10000, for example. This list includes some non-asteroids.

Powers of 10x1

Powers of 10x2

Powers of 10x3

Powers of 10x4

Powers of 10x5

Powers of 10x6

Powers of 10x7

Powers of 10x8

Powers 10x9

Repeated 1

Repeated 2

Repeated 3

Repeated 4

Repeated 5

Repeated 6

Repeated 7

Repeated 8

Repeated 9

See also

Books

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asteroid</span> Minor planets found within the inner Solar System

An asteroid is a minor planet—an object that is neither a true planet nor a comet—that orbits within the inner Solar System. They are rocky, metallic, or icy bodies with no atmosphere. The size and shape of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from small rubble piles under a kilometer across to Ceres, a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planet</span> Large, round non-stellar astronomical object

A planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is neither a star nor its remnant. The best available theory of planet formation is the nebular hypothesis, which posits that an interstellar cloud collapses out of a nebula to create a young protostar orbited by a protoplanetary disk. Planets grow in this disk by the gradual accumulation of material driven by gravity, a process called accretion. The Solar System has at least eight planets: the terrestrial planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, and the giant planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4 Vesta</span> Second largest asteroid of the main asteroid belt

Vesta is one of the largest objects in the asteroid belt, with a mean diameter of 525 kilometres (326 mi). It was discovered by the German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers on 29 March 1807 and is named after Vesta, the virgin goddess of home and hearth from Roman mythology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Pallas</span> Third-largest asteroid

Pallas is the second asteroid to have been discovered, after Ceres. Like Ceres, it is believed to have a mineral composition similar to carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, though significantly less hydrated than Ceres. It is the third-largest asteroid in the Solar System by both volume and mass, and is a likely remnant protoplanet. It is 79% the mass of Vesta and 22% the mass of Ceres, constituting an estimated 7% of the mass of the asteroid belt. Its estimated volume is equivalent to a sphere 507 to 515 kilometers in diameter, 90–95% the volume of Vesta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asteroid belt</span> Region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, centered on the Sun and roughly spanning the space between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets. The identified objects are of many sizes, but much smaller than planets, and, on average, are about one million kilometers apart. This asteroid belt is also called the main asteroid belt or main belt to distinguish it from other asteroid populations in the Solar System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natural satellite</span> Astronomical body that orbits a planet

A natural satellite is, in the most common usage, an astronomical body that orbits a planet, dwarf planet, or small Solar System body. Natural satellites are colloquially referred to as moons, a derivation from the Moon of Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centaur (small Solar System body)</span> Type of Solar System object

In planetary astronomy, a centaur is a small Solar System body that orbits the Sun between Jupiter and Neptune and crosses the orbits of one or more of the giant planets. Centaurs generally have unstable orbits because they cross or have crossed the orbits of the giant planets; almost all their orbits have dynamic lifetimes of only a few million years, but there is one known centaur, 514107 Kaʻepaokaʻawela, which may be in a stable orbit. Centaurs typically exhibit the characteristics of both asteroids and comets. They are named after the mythological centaurs that were a mixture of horse and human. Observational bias toward large objects makes determination of the total centaur population difficult. Estimates for the number of centaurs in the Solar System more than 1 km in diameter range from as low as 44,000 to more than 10,000,000.

Damocloids are a class of minor planets such as 5335 Damocles and 1996 PW that have Halley-type or long-period highly eccentric orbits typical of periodic comets such as Halley's Comet, but without showing a cometary coma or tail. David Jewitt defines a damocloid as an object with a Jupiter Tisserand invariant (TJ) of 2 or less, while Akimasa Nakamura defines this group with the following orbital elements:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10 Hygiea</span> Major asteroid

Hygiea is a major asteroid located in the main asteroid belt. With a mean diameter of between 425 and 440 km and a mass estimated to be 3% of the total mass of the belt, it is the fourth-largest asteroid in the Solar System by both volume and mass, and is the largest of the C-type asteroids in classifications that use G type for 1 Ceres. It is very close to spherical, apparently because it had re-accreted after the disruptive impact that produced the large Hygiean family of asteroids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">704 Interamnia</span> Large asteroid in the asteroid belt

704 Interamnia is a large F-type asteroid. With a mean diameter of around 330 kilometres, it is the fifth-largest asteroid, after Ceres, Vesta, Pallas and Hygiea. Its mean distance from the Sun is 3.067 AU. It was discovered on 2 October 1910 by Vincenzo Cerulli, and named after the Latin name for Teramo, Italy, where Cerulli worked. Its mass is probably between fifth and tenth highest in the asteroid belt, with a mass estimated to be 1.2% of the mass of the entire asteroid belt. Observations by the Very Large Telescope's SPHERE imager in 2017–2019, combined with occultation results, indicate that the shape of Interamnia may be consistent with hydrostatic equilibrium for a body of its density with a rotational period of 7.6 hours. This suggests that Interamnia may have formed as an equilibrium body, and that impacts changed its rotational period after it fully solidified.

The definition of the term planet has changed several times since the word was coined by the ancient Greeks. Greek astronomers employed the term ἀστέρες πλανῆται, 'wandering stars', for star-like objects which apparently moved over the sky. Over the millennia, the term has included a variety of different celestial bodies, from the Sun and the Moon to satellites and asteroids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">324 Bamberga</span> Main-belt asteroid

Bamberga is one of the largest asteroids in the asteroid belt. It was discovered by Johann Palisa on 25 February 1892 in Vienna. It is one of the top-20 largest asteroids in the asteroid belt. Apart from the near-Earth asteroid Eros, it was the last asteroid which is ever easily visible with binoculars to be discovered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trojan (celestial body)</span> Objects sharing the orbit of a larger one

In astronomy, a trojan is a small celestial body (mostly asteroids) that shares the orbit of a larger body, remaining in a stable orbit approximately 60° ahead of or behind the main body near one of its Lagrangian points L4 and L5. Trojans can share the orbits of planets or of large moons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discovery and exploration of the Solar System</span>

Discovery and exploration of the Solar System is observation, visitation, and increase in knowledge and understanding of Earth's "cosmic neighborhood". This includes the Sun, Earth and the Moon, the major planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, their satellites, as well as smaller bodies including comets, asteroids, and dust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nice model</span> Scenario for the dynamical evolution of the Solar System

The Nicemodel is a scenario for the dynamical evolution of the Solar System. It is named for the location of the Côte d'Azur Observatory—where it was initially developed in 2005—in Nice, France. It proposes the migration of the giant planets from an initial compact configuration into their present positions, long after the dissipation of the initial protoplanetary disk. In this way, it differs from earlier models of the Solar System's formation. This planetary migration is used in dynamical simulations of the Solar System to explain historical events including the Late Heavy Bombardment of the inner Solar System, the formation of the Oort cloud, and the existence of populations of small Solar System bodies such as the Kuiper belt, the Neptune and Jupiter trojans, and the numerous resonant trans-Neptunian objects dominated by Neptune.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of the Solar System</span> Overview of and topical guide to the Solar System

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Solar System:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">514107 Kaʻepaokaʻawela</span> Retrograde asteroid discovered in 2014

514107 Kaʻepaokaʻāwela, provisionally designated 2015 BZ509 and nicknamed Bee-Zed, is a small asteroid, approximately 3 km (2 mi) in diameter, in a resonant, co-orbital motion with Jupiter. It is an unusual minor planet in that its orbit is retrograde, which is opposite to the direction of most other bodies in the Solar System. It was discovered on 26 November 2014, by astronomers of the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory on the island of Maui, United States. Kaʻepaokaʻāwela is the first example of an asteroid in a 1:–1 resonance with any of the planets. This type of resonance had only been studied a few years before the object's discovery. One study suggests that it was an interstellar asteroid captured 4.5 billion years ago into an orbit around the Sun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historical models of the Solar System</span>

Historical models of the Solar System began during prehistoric periods and are updated to this day. The models of the Solar System throughout history were first represented in the early form of cave markings and drawings, calendars and astronomical symbols. Then books and written records became the main source of information that expressed the way the people of the time thought of the Solar System.

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