Asteroids are small rocky or metallic bodies that orbit the sun and range in size from meters to over 500 km wide. They are found predominantly in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Ceres is the largest asteroid at 940 km in diameter. Asteroids are classified according to their composition, with C-type asteroids being the most common at 75% and consisting of carbon and dust. It is believed that an asteroid impact was responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

1. ASTEROIDS

2. What are asteroids?
small rocky or metallic body that
orbits the Sun.
They are generally irregular in shape
and often have surfaces covered with
craters.
Asteroids range in size from a few
meters to over 500 km (300 mi) wide.

4. Where are they found?
Asteroids are found in the MAIN
ASTEROID BELT between Mars and
Jupiter.
Astronomer Johan Bode discovered the
existence of asteroid in the year 1800.
Their number is estimated to be about
30,000 but only 7,000 have been
identified.

5. The Main Asteroid Belt

6. CERES
Ceres is the largest
asteroid
(940 km in diameter)
It was discovered
by Giuseppe Piazzi
on January 1, 1801.

7. PALLAS and VESTA
Pallas is the Second Largest Asteroid
(540 km in diameter)
Vesta is the Third largest asteroid.
(510 km in diameter)

8. Types of Asteroids
(according to color and composition)
1. C-Type Asteroids- very dark and
carbonaceous. There are 75 percent of
known asteroids that are of the C-type.
2. S-type Asteroids- rusty red in color and
are composed of iron and magnesium
silicate.
3. M-type Asteroids- rich with metallic
substances.

9. Types of Asteroids
(according to position)
1. Athens- lie near the orbit of Mars.
(ex: Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta)
2. Apollos- lie near Jupiter.
(ex: Eros, Geographos, Icarus)
3. Trojans- lie within the main asteroid belt.
(ex: Hector, Diomedes, Agamemnon, and
Petrocius)

10. Many scientists believe that a large asteroid
or comet struck Earth about 65 million years
ago, changing the Earth’s climate enough to
kill off the dinosaurs..

11. Asteroid impact near Flagstaff,
Arizona (1.13 km wide)

12. Interesting Asteroids!
Asteroid 2012 DA14-
made a very close
approach to Earth last
Feb.2013
Asteroid Toutatis-
made a near Earth
approach on
December 2012

13. Asteroids Named after Filipino
Scientists
Asteroid 6282 Edwelda- named after
Edwin L. Aguirre and Imelda B. Joson.
They made thorough investigation about
Comet Halley and wrote a book about it.
Asteroid 4866 Badillo- named after Fr.
Victor L. Badillo who founded the
Philippine Astronomical Society.

14. Asteroids Named after Filipino
Scientists
Asteroid 6636 Kintanar- named after
Roman Lucero Kintanar, former PAGASA
Director and former President of UN World
Meteorological Organization.
Asteroid 11697 Estrella
Asteroid 12088 Macalintal
Asteroid 12522 Rara
Asteroid 13241 Biyo