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Astronomy and Space

Planets and Moons

What is a small Solar System body?

The International Astronomical Union defines a small Solar System body as all objects that orbit the sun and are too small for their own gravity to pull them into a nearly spherical shape. Simply stated, they are all objects that do not meet the definition of a planet or dwarf planet. Examples of small Solar System bodies are asteroids, near-Earth objects, Mars and Jupiter Trojan asteroids, most Centaurs, most Trans-Neptunian objects, and comets.



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