Asteroid belt solar system project

What is dawn to the asteroid belt?

Fact Sheet: Dawn to the... Exploring a new frontier, the Dawn mission will journey back in time over 4.5 billion years to the beginning of our Solar System. How is this “time travel” possible? Many thousands of small bodies orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt—a large region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

What is the active asteroid project?

About the Active Asteroids Project: The Citizen Science program, Active Asteroids, is a collaborative effort between scientists and the global community, hosted on the Zooniverse online platform.

What do asteroids reveal about planetary formation?

Sometimes called minor planets, asteroids contain clues that reveal the conditions and processes acting at the Solar System’s earliest epoch. By investigating two very different asteroids, Ceres and Vesta, the Dawn mission seeks to unlock some of the mysteries of planetary formation.

How does NASA find asteroids?

NASA has sent several robotic spacecraft to encounter asteroids up close. The agency also uses telescopes to scan the skies for asteroids. Here are highlights from some of those missions. Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor will be NASA's first space telescope specifically designed to hunt asteroids and comets that may be potential hazards to Earth.

Why did asteroids never grow?

Scientists theorize that the asteroids were budding planets and never given the opportunity to grow, due to gravitational stirring by massive Jupiter. Sometimes called minor planets, asteroids contain clues that reveal the conditions and processes acting at the Solar System’s earliest epoch.

Why are active asteroids important for space exploration?

Additionally, active asteroids may be valuable for future space exploration because the same ices that are responsible for comet-like tails can also be used for critical resources, such as rocket fuel and breathable air.