Asteroids are small rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, primarily located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. These objects are remnants from the early solar system, providing valuable clues about the formation of planets and moons. Some asteroids are just a few meters across, while others can be hundreds of kilometers wide.
Although most asteroids are harmless, some come close to Earth’s orbit, and NASA actively tracks these Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs). Understanding asteroids and their orbits is crucial for planetary defense, as larger asteroids can cause significant damage if they were to collide with Earth.