What are asteroids? And what's the difference between asteroids, comets, and meteors? When you think of asteroids, if ever you ever do, don’t just picture rocky celestial bodies, flying somewhere between the planets. Asteroids are much more curious and unique. Did you know they can contain huge amounts of valuable elements? Or that some asteroids can be unimaginably expensive? It’s true!

Asteroids come in a variety of shapes and sizes. One of the largest is Vesta. Its diameter is bigger than the length of the Grand Canyon. The smallest asteroid ever observed is smaller than a car. Scientists call asteroids minor planets because they are too small to be real planets and can’t be classified as comets. Asteroids orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt that lies between Mars and Jupiter.

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