Although referred to as an asteroid, it is officially classified as a minor planet, orbiting the Sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Between 1801 and 1808, astronomers tracked down a further three minor planets within this region of space: Pallas, Juno and Vesta, each smaller than Ceres.
She made observations of one of the minor planets and calculated its orbit.
The next body to be discovered in the solar system was the minor planet Ceres, discovered in 1801.
In the outer Solar System and the asteroids / minor planets tend to be redder in colour because they contain more organic material.
Definition of minor planet in US English:
minor planet
nounˌmīnər ˈplanət
An asteroid.
小行星。常与MAJOR PLANET 相对
Often contrasted with major planet
Example sentencesExamples
She made observations of one of the minor planets and calculated its orbit.
In the outer Solar System and the asteroids / minor planets tend to be redder in colour because they contain more organic material.
Although referred to as an asteroid, it is officially classified as a minor planet, orbiting the Sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Between 1801 and 1808, astronomers tracked down a further three minor planets within this region of space: Pallas, Juno and Vesta, each smaller than Ceres.
The next body to be discovered in the solar system was the minor planet Ceres, discovered in 1801.