What makes this world interesting
The main belt is very sparsely populated, unlike the obstacle courses shown in films. Some asteroids cross regions near Earth; others share a planet’s orbit. Ceres is classified as a dwarf planet.
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Small bodies
Asteroids and the main belt
Rocky archives
Asteroids are small bodies, mostly rocky or metallic, that orbit the Sun.
- Main region
- Between Mars and Jupiter
- Examples
- Vesta · Bennu · Ryugu
Observe or explore it
To identify an asteroid, compare its position against the stars in several images or with an ephemeris. Its motion is a useful clue.
Connect the discoveries
Sources and reference information
NASA Science — Asteroids and the main belt
Rounded educational data, sources consulted on 18 October 2026. Orbital distances are mean reference distances from the Sun, not current distances from Earth. Periods are expressed in Earth time. The planner provides date-specific positions for supported targets.