Asteroids
This page is no longer in use. You should be redirected to our current "Asteroids" page in a few moments, or you can click here to go there now.
You might also be interested in:
![](/headline_universe/solar_system/stories_2004/sedna_planetoid_sm.jpg)
Astronomers have found a new object in our Solar System. The new object is named Sedna. Astronomers are calling Sedna a "planetoid". A planetoid is smaller than a planet but bigger than asteroids or comets.
...more![](/asteroids/images/toutatis_orbit_sm.gif)
A big asteroid flew by Earth. Don't worry though - it isn't going to hit us! The asteroid is named Toutatis. It didn't get too close to Earth. The closest Toutatis came to Earth was 1.5 million kilometers
...more![](/pluto/images/hst_pluto_charon_small.jpg)
Pluto has been officially demoted from its status as a planet. The International Astronomical Union (IAU), at a meeting in August 2006, voted on their first "official" definition of a planet.
...more![](/headline_universe/images/leonids_2001_sm.jpg)
Meteors are streaks of light, usually lasting just a few seconds, which people occasionally see in the night sky. They are sometimes called "shooting stars" or "falling stars", though they are not stars
...more![](/our_solar_system/meteors/geminid_meteor_animation.gif)
Meteor showers are times when you can see a lot of meteors in one night. There are several different meteor showers. Each meteor shower happens at the same time every year. There is a meteor shower in
...more![](/asteroids/images/asteroid_2003_eh1_orbit_anim_sm.gif)
Meteor showers are times when you can see a lot of meteors in one night. There are several different meteor showers. Each meteor shower happens at the same time every year. There is a meteor shower in
...more![](/asteroids/images/asteroid_toutatis_sm.jpg)
Toutatis is the name of a strange asteroid. This asteroid has a strange shape. It also spins in a funny way. Toutatis is shaped like a potato. It is about 5 km (3 miles) long. It is about half as wide
...more