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Relationship Between Asteroids and Meteoroids

Within the universe lies our solar system, of which the Sun, a star, is the center. Gravity keeps a wide variety of celestial objects in individual orbits that revolve around the Sun. Two of these objects are asteroids and meteoroids. At face value, asteroids and meteoroids may appear to only be linked by having a mutual membership in the same solar system. However, asteroids and meteoroids are very closely related.

Asteroids
- Asteroids are rock-like masses, ranging in size from 33 feet to more than 400 miles in diameter. They were once believed to have been vestiges of exploded planets. However, scientists now theorize that asteroids are remnants of matter left over from the formation of the solar system. It's believed that asteroids couldn't be integrated into other celestial bodies, such as into planets, because of Jupiter's gravitational pull.
  
  Even though asteroids shine like stars, most are too small to be measured directly. Asteroids usually have an irregular shape. They are primarily composed of carbon-enriched rocks that sometimes contain other elements such as nickel and iron.
  
  The first asteroid was discovered in 1801 by Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi. He named the asteroid after Roman mythology's goddess of agriculture, Ceres. To date, Ceres is still the largest asteroid ever discovered, measuring 580 miles in diameter.
  
  Our solar system has an estimated 1 million asteroids. Vesta was the fourth asteroid to be discovered and as of 2011 is the only one that can be seen with the naked eye.
Meteoroids
- A meteoroid is a piece of debris that orbits around the Sun at various speeds. Meteoroids are usually pebble-sized, metallic or rock-like in substance, and can travel at the rate of 26 miles per second.
Common Ground
- Asteroids and meteoroids share common ground in that a meteoroid is a piece of debris from an asteroid. While the size of meteoroids are generally small, in some situations, the line between a small asteroid and a large meteoroid is blurred.
Related Celestial Objects
- In addition to being derived from asteroids, meteoroids are also particles that come off of comets. However, unlike asteroids that are primarily composed of rock, comets are made chiefly of ice and dirt. They are distinguished by a glowing tail of gas and dust that becomes visible when they are in closer proximity to the Sun. A comet's tail can expand to be 100 million miles long.
  
  Meteors and meteorites are types of meteoroids that are distinguished by their relationship with the Earth. A meteoroid that burns up while it's within the Earth's atmosphere is called a meteor -- sometimes referred to as a "shooting star." A meteoroid that is not destroyed in the atmosphere and winds up landing on the Earth's surface is called a meteorite.

Astronomy