Asteroids : Asteroids are also known as minor planets. They are objects that revolve around the Sun. They are mostly found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Asteroids are a belt of debris which failed to assemble into planets and keeps on revolving around the Sun. This has come to be called as 'asteroid belt'.
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An Asteroid |
More than 5000 asteroids have been identified. Asteroids may be spherical, elongated or irregular in shape. All asteroids rotate on their axis, every 5 to 20 hours. Certain asteroids may have satellites.
Trojan asteroids are found in two clouds moving in the orbit of Jupiter, one moving ahead of it and the other moving behind it.
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Rotating Asteroid |
"Scientits believe that these asteroids occupy a place where a planet could have exited but was prevented from its formation by the disruptive gravitational force of the giant planet, Jupiter."