October 27, 2019
By: Haris Ahmad[1]
Asteroids are small rocky bodies orbiting a star (In our case, the Sun). They range in various sizes from very small to enormous ones. In the Solar system, these asteroids exist in the asteroid belt that exists between Mars and Jupiter as well as in the Kuiper belt that exists beyond the planets of the Solar system but are still a part of it.
By: Haris Ahmad[1]
Asteroids are small rocky bodies orbiting a star (In our case, the Sun). They range in various sizes from very small to enormous ones. In the Solar system, these asteroids exist in the asteroid belt that exists between Mars and Jupiter as well as in the Kuiper belt that exists beyond the planets of the Solar system but are still a part of it.
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| Picture credits: Chemistryworld.com |
They orbit the Sun in elliptical orbits. Some are made up of
silicon and oxygen whereas, some are metallic; thus, made up of iron, iridium,
platinum, gold, etc. These celestial bodies are the leftovers of the formation
of our Solar system about 4.6 billion years ago, and maybe a part of other
planetary systems after their formation. Asteroids are fascinating objects;
they can be planet makers as well as destroyers.
Nowadays, the best theory of the formation of the Earth is because of the collisions of huge asteroids into each other; thus, forming our planet. This exposes the fact of how many elements ended up on Earth (As we know that asteroids consist of many materials). The asteroids slammed into each other and the Earth forming this great planet. Later, a Mars-sized planet called “Theia” collided with Earth causing huge destruction. The debris of the collision, in turn, slammed into each other forming our beloved Moon that is our only natural satellite.
Moreover, even though it is a fact that asteroids are planet makers; but they can even cause mass destruction. The gravitational force of the Earth is strong enough to attract many asteroids to it but thanks to Jupiter, it attracts a lot of the asteroids to itself causing them to be destructed. However, some asteroids somehow make their way towards the Earth, which can cause a collision. Though most of these asteroids burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, some make their way to the land. If they reach the surface of the Earth, even a quarter-mile wide asteroid can cause destruction in the form of seismic waves (Earthquakes), tsunamis, floods, etc. An example of how overwhelming these things are is the tragedy that happened of 15 Feb 2013 in the Russian city known as Chelyabinsk; in which 20m wide asteroid slammed into the atmosphere and the shock injured 1200 people. When an asteroid reaches the surface of the Earth, it is called a meteorite, in case you didn’t know.
Furthermore, scientists nowadays are trying to get samples from these celestial bodies. A mission named Hayabusa 2 is one launched by the Japanese space agency (JAXA) on 3 Dec 2013, which is an asteroid sample return mission. It will take samples from 162173 Ryugu asteroid, and has been successful in doing so. The only wait is of its arrival, which will happen at the end of 2020. Just like this, many other space agencies are also sending spacecraft in this regard. I will end this blog by a quote made by Neil deGrasse Tyson in which he says,” I don't want to be the embarrassment of the galaxy to have had the power to deflect an asteroid, and then not and end up going extinct. We'd be the laughingstock of the aliens of the cosmos if that were the case”. Indeed he is right.
Nowadays, the best theory of the formation of the Earth is because of the collisions of huge asteroids into each other; thus, forming our planet. This exposes the fact of how many elements ended up on Earth (As we know that asteroids consist of many materials). The asteroids slammed into each other and the Earth forming this great planet. Later, a Mars-sized planet called “Theia” collided with Earth causing huge destruction. The debris of the collision, in turn, slammed into each other forming our beloved Moon that is our only natural satellite.
Moreover, even though it is a fact that asteroids are planet makers; but they can even cause mass destruction. The gravitational force of the Earth is strong enough to attract many asteroids to it but thanks to Jupiter, it attracts a lot of the asteroids to itself causing them to be destructed. However, some asteroids somehow make their way towards the Earth, which can cause a collision. Though most of these asteroids burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, some make their way to the land. If they reach the surface of the Earth, even a quarter-mile wide asteroid can cause destruction in the form of seismic waves (Earthquakes), tsunamis, floods, etc. An example of how overwhelming these things are is the tragedy that happened of 15 Feb 2013 in the Russian city known as Chelyabinsk; in which 20m wide asteroid slammed into the atmosphere and the shock injured 1200 people. When an asteroid reaches the surface of the Earth, it is called a meteorite, in case you didn’t know.
Furthermore, scientists nowadays are trying to get samples from these celestial bodies. A mission named Hayabusa 2 is one launched by the Japanese space agency (JAXA) on 3 Dec 2013, which is an asteroid sample return mission. It will take samples from 162173 Ryugu asteroid, and has been successful in doing so. The only wait is of its arrival, which will happen at the end of 2020. Just like this, many other space agencies are also sending spacecraft in this regard. I will end this blog by a quote made by Neil deGrasse Tyson in which he says,” I don't want to be the embarrassment of the galaxy to have had the power to deflect an asteroid, and then not and end up going extinct. We'd be the laughingstock of the aliens of the cosmos if that were the case”. Indeed he is right.
