An asteroid is a minor planet —an object larger than a meteoroid (thus 1 meter or larger) that is neither a planet nor an identified comet —that orbits within the inner Solar System or is co-orbital with Jupiter (Trojan asteroids). Explore the 3D world of Asteroids, Comets and NEOs. Learn about past and future missions, tracking and predicting orbits, and close approaches to Earth.

Understanding the Context

A rare stargazing spectacle will unfold on Friday, , as the asteroid Apophis passes closer than satellites over Europe and Africa. 'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis will blaze across the sky in 2029 Asteroid, any of a host of small bodies, about 1,000 km (600 miles) or less in diameter, that orbit the Sun primarily between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in a nearly flat ring called the asteroid belt. Hundreds of thousands of asteroids are known. Brace yourself for a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic spectacle that sounds almost too unreal to believe: NASA has confirmed that the massive “God of Chaos” asteroid, known as Apophis, will streak ...

Key Insights

NASA says giant asteroid will skim closer to Earth than satellites - Yahoo Discover which asteroids, including Vesta and Pallas, are visible tonight. Check their location, brightness, and best viewing times to observe them in the sky.