Small Bodies

According to the International Astronomical Union, small Solar System bodies include comets, asteroids, and trans-Neptunian objects (except for dwarf planets). Most asteroids and trans-Neptunian objects are located in the asteroid belt and the Kuiper Belt. The comets mainly come from the Oort Cloud. From time to time, small Solar System bodies can get quite close to the Earth and even become potentially hazardous objects. Here, you'll learn many interesting facts about different types of small bodies and discover which of them are really to be feared.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS March 2023

New Comet With Great Potential — C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

~5 min

A new noteworthy comet has been discovered! It could reach naked-eye visibility by mid-October 2024. Here is what we know about it so far.

Astronomical News
Great comets

Great Comets: What Are They and When Is the Next One?

~3 min

A great comet is an extraordinary event. Once you've seen it, you'll never forget it. Is there a great comet coming up? Learn from this article!

Astronomical News
Asteroid 2015 TB145 passing near Earth

Should You Worry About an Asteroid Hitting Earth?

~10 min

Is it likely for an asteroid to hit Earth anytime soon? In this article, we’ll answer the most burning questions about potentially hazardous asteroids.

Astronomical News
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) Path in February

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) — The Best Visible Comet 2023 Is Close To Earth Right Now

~6 min

Stargazers worldwide have already started observing this bright comet. ☄️What are you waiting for? Learn when and how you can see it, too!

Astronomical News
Astronomy calendar 2023

Astronomy Calendar 2023: All Space Events in 2023

~22 min

Best events 2023: comets, eclipses, planetary conjunctions, and more! Find out what’s in the sky in 2023 with our astronomy calendar.

Astronomical News
Comets 2023

Comets 2023: List of Comets Visible From Earth

~6 min

Learn about 10 bright comets visible from Earth in 2023. Some of them might become binocular or even naked-eye objects!

Astronomical News
The Kuiper Belt

Kuiper Belt: The Solar System’s Frontier

~5 min

Learn why the Kuiper Belt was named after a man who didn’t discover it and how its objects might help us find another Solar System planet.

Astronomical News
A man watching a meteor shower

Space Rocks Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Small Space Objects

Space rocks can be called many different names: meteoroids, meteors, meteorites, comets, and asteroids. How to differentiate between them? Take this quiz to test your knowledge about small bodies of the Solar System and become a space rock expert.

Quizzes
Main Asteroid Belt

Asteroid Belt: A Planet That Never Formed

~6 min

Who first discovered the asteroid belt? Are the asteroids remnants of an ancient planet? Learn fun facts about the asteroid belt from this article.

Astronomical News
Asteroid Heading Towards Earth

International Asteroid Day: History, Key Facts, Activities

~4 min

How can you prevent asteroid impact hazards by observing Asteroid Day? Learn from this article!

Astronomical News