Space rocks in the solar system can be classified into many types, such as asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteorites, etc. What are these space objects? And why do astronomers call these rocks different names?
In the solar system, various space objects orbiting the sun In addition to the planets that we already know It is also full of space rocks that are like rough dirt roads. It also moves in circles around the sun. Astronomers are trying to learn more about these space rocks. in hopes of finding some answers That might lead to a hint of the emergence of life on the planet we call Earth, or perhaps it’s just a hypothesis that never actually happened.
Asteroids are groups of rocks or rocks that do not have an atmosphere. Birth is due to the formation of the solar system. They range from the size of a car to the size of a large city.
Asteroids contain a variety of elements, such as the metal carbon that gives them black coal lumps. Some stars are a collection of rubble. that are stretched together freely by their own gravity Or it could be a single large boulder.
The location of asteroids in the solar system is in a region called asteroid belt that orbits between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter which has hundreds of thousands of stars Or maybe millions of stars
Classification of space rocks / illustration NASA
Asteroids (and comets) have different orbits. It was found that some space rocks have orbits close to the Earth, called near-Earth objects or NEOs. Scientists on Earth have been trying to find a system to track these space objects before they hit the Earth. Currently, these systems are supported by the unit. Space work from many countries To determine whether there may be dangers to the world or not.
Most recently, in August 2023, the asteroid impact warning system in Chile. sponsored by NASA and developed by the University of Hawaii A space rock has been detected. which has a length of approximately 183 meters and has an orbit directed towards Earth. But from current information, there is still no chance of it colliding with Earth. Because when calculating the orbital direction, the position closest to the Earth The space rock’s orbit is still about 230,000 kilometers from Earth.
in the study of the universe Asteroids are like a reservoir of information from the early solar system. Astronomers have also proposed the hypothesis that Could the asteroid belt be a source of organic matter that is important for the origin of life on Earth?
Comet ISON / Photo NASA
The next known type of space rock is a comet.
Comets are like lumps of ice orbiting the Sun. Each comet has a center called a nucleus. compressed with gas along with rubble and dust When the comet’s orbit approaches the sun The comet heats up and spews dust and gas. Forming into a giant glowing ball with a tail stretching out in the opposite direction from the sun
Currently, astronomers do not know the exact number of comets in the solar system. But it is estimated that there should be approximately 3,535 stars. All comets have similar formation characteristics to asteroids. They are left over from the formation of the solar system. Therefore, scientists believe that comets contain information that could help solve the mystery of the universe’s origins.
One of the most frequently mentioned types of space rocks in the media is meteorites. Made from rock fragments released from asteroids, comets, and planets in the solar system, meteorites are the smallest type of space rocks. This usually does not have a serious impact on our planet. But we can see them when meteors pass through Earth’s atmosphere in the form of meteors and meteor showers.
On October 21, 2023, news agencies in many countries presented content inviting the public to come out and watch. The “Orionid Meteor Shower” is a trace of Comet Halley’s orbit that passed the Sun in 1986 and left behind large amounts of dust and small space rocks in its orbit.
in the history of mankind Some space rocks have fallen to Earth in abundance. Some are so large that they are causing changes to the world’s ecosystems. Some of them were only small stones. That didn’t make an impact at all, however, astronomers from around the world continue to study the space rock further. To understand about the solar system And sometimes they can get some hints from these space rock samples. that can explain the origins of our world
Searched and compiled Naphatthanai
Reference information
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/slideshow/whats-that-space-rock/
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/10-things-whats-that-space-rock/
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/9meteor/
https://www.thaipbs.or.th/now/content/239
https://www.thairath.co.th/news/society/2734580
