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What is an asteroid?
Asteroids are small minor planets that orbit the Sun; the majority are in orbits that confine them between Mars and Jupiter (the asteroid belt). Most asteroids are composed of rock, but some have large metallic components such as iron and nickel. Some asteroids are believed to be “burnt-out” comets that have lost all their frozen gases. The largest known asteroid is Ceres, about 950 kilometres in diameter.
More information on asteroids can be seen in our virtual exhibition.
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