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30th June is celebrated as International Asteroid Day , which was declared by the United Nations to educate the people about asteroids. This day commemorates the anniversary of Tunguska asteroid incident in Siberia, Russian Federation, on 30th June, 1908. ‘

What is Asteroid?– Asteroids are smaller or minor planets , specially of the inner solar system. Basically they are small rocky objects , orbit the Sun. Larger asteroids are called ‘ Planetoids‘.

Asteroid Belt

Most of these are in the main ‘ Asteroid Belt‘, a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. There are millions of asteroids in this belt. This belt contains almost 1.1 to 1.9 million of asteroids larger than 1 km. in diameter. There are also millions of asteroid smaller than these.

Trojans Asteroids

There are also many asteroids outside the main belt. Trojans are asteroids , share an orbit with a larger planet or moon but don,t collide with them because they orbit in one of the two Lagrangian points of stability. Jupiter Trojans are most significant example of them. They are also in the orbits of Venus, Earth, Mars, Uranus, Neptune.

Near – Earth Asteroids

There are also almost thousands of asteroids who are Near – Earth Asteroids or NEAs , they are closer to earth than sun. like Atira asteroids. Asteroids . those who actually cross the orbital path of the Earth are called ‘ Earth– crossers‘.

Shape and Temperature

They can be of variety of shapes and size. Some of them also have round shape like planets. The average temperature of the surface of an asteroid is -100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Components and Classification-

According to the components asteroids can be divided as- i. C– type or Carbonaceous Asteroids. They are most common . They are made of clay and stony silicate rocks. ii. S-type or Silicaceous Asteroids . They are generally made of silicate and nickel-iron. iii. M–type or Metallic Asteroids. Generally made of nickle- iron.