minor planet

Synonyms:

planetoid

Examples:

show 6 examples...

hide 6 examples...

Quaoar

a planetoid discovered in 2002

Sedna

a planetoid of rock and ice about three-quarters the size of Pluto discovered in 2003; the most distant object known to orbit around the sun

Apollo asteroid

an asteroid whose orbit crosses the Earth's orbit

Ceres

the largest asteroid and the first discovered

Pallas

a large asteroid; the second asteroid to be discovered

Vesta

the brightest asteroid but the fourth to be discovered

Types:

asteroid

any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)

KBO, Kuiper belt object

any of many minor planets in the Kuiper belt outside the orbit of Neptune at the edge of the solar system

Chiron

an asteroid discovered in 1977; it is unique in having an orbit lying mainly between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus

Type of:

celestial body, heavenly body

natural objects visible in the sky