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Find a Meteorite: Explore Asteroids

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Asteroids are small bodies in the Solar System made out of rocky material and iron-nickel metal.

The asteroids are located mainly between Mars and Jupiter, known as the main asteroid belt. The DAWN mission will visit two of the asteroids shown below, Vesta and Ceres.

Why is asteroid Ceres spherical (round like a ball)? Link to pop-up box with answers.
Why are asteroids Eros, Gaspra, and Vesta irregular in shape? Link to pop-up box with answers.

How do these asteroids differ?

(Click on an image for larger view and information.)

Image of Eros asteroid   Image of Gaspra asteroid   Image of Vesta asteroid   Image of Ceres asteroid

- More about asteroids
- Dawn Dictionary