Asteroids are the rocky bodies that orbit the sun mainly between Mars and Jupiter. Although most of the asteroids pose no threat to the Earth, 2000 large asteroids closely approach earth's orbit . They are known as NEOs:  Near Earth Objects.

                                                                          


 NOTABLE ASTEROIDS

Name                                                      Claim to fame

1. Ceres,Pallas,Vesta,Hygiea              Known as the 'BIG FOUR'
2. Ceres                                             Largest known 940 km wide, discovered by Giuseppi Piazzi
3. Spock                                            Named after the Star Trek Character
4. Ida                                                 Has its own moon
5. 323 Brucia                                     First to be captured by photography
6. Gaspra                                           First photographed by probe