×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Monday
18
Aug 2025
weather symbol
Athens 31°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

What’s the smallest known asteroid? What about the largest?

Not all asteroids are planet killers

Newsroom March 9 07:25

Asteroids constantly zoom around our solar system and sometimes smash into planets, including Earth. As such, in the name of planetary defense NASA conducted a test, dubbed DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test), to deflect a space rock like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs (or the one Bruce Willis blew up at the end of the movie Armageddon).

>Related articles

Jim Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13, died at 97

The first Indian ISS astronaut arrived at the International Space Station

The first satellite bearing the Greek flag was launched into space – How it will enhance civil protection

Not all asteroids are planet killers, however. While some are monster-size, others are quite tiny. So, what are the largest and smallest asteroids on record in the solar system?

In short, the largest asteroid in the solar system is Ceres, which at nearly 590 miles (950 kilometers) across is about one-quarter the size of the moon. The smallest asteroid is more difficult to pin down; the smallest asteroid officially recognized by NASA (opens in new tab), known as asteroid 2015 TC25, is 6 feet (2 meters) across. Some definitions purport that asteroids must be at least 3 feet (1 m) across(opens in new tab), but not all scientists agree about this size limitation.

more at livescience.com

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#NASA asteroids#space#stars#universe
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Demographic SOS: In 15 years, 45,000 first graders “disappeared”!

August 18, 2025

Tragedy on Egnatia highway – Truck crashes into cars at Iasmos toll station: Three dead, two seriously Injured – Watch video

August 18, 2025

Chaos on a beach in Granada: Gale-force winds swept away swimmers as Spain battles fires – Watch video

August 18, 2025

Patras: New deadline for 25-year-old accused of nursing home arson

August 18, 2025

Sicily horror: Bridge collapses while cars are crossing – Terrifying video

August 18, 2025

From the Venus de Milo to the Danish Mermaid – When the female breast turns from art into porn

August 18, 2025

Jason Statham: The actor in Antiparos – See photo

August 18, 2025

Cyclone Erin strengthens again to category 4, threatens the Bahamas

August 18, 2025
All News

> Greece

Demographic SOS: In 15 years, 45,000 first graders “disappeared”!

In 2010, there were 115,000 children in the 1st grade of primary school. This coming September, only about 71,000 will attend for the first time — that is, 1,760 fewer classrooms

August 18, 2025

Tragedy on Egnatia highway – Truck crashes into cars at Iasmos toll station: Three dead, two seriously Injured – Watch video

August 18, 2025

Patras: New deadline for 25-year-old accused of nursing home arson

August 18, 2025

Weather: The week starts with instability and a drop in temperature – Where will it rain

August 18, 2025

Personal Number: Deadline for citizens to issue it is ending – It will be automatically assigned from September 5

August 17, 2025
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2025 Πρώτο Θέμα