What is the difference between asteroids and minor planets?
Small planets are called “asteroids” or “minor planets” in English. The former originates from the usage of the word meaning “something like stars” at the start of the 19th century. This is because they looked like points even if viewed through a telescope. The latter simply means “small planets”. Both are correct ways of calling asteroids. According to a British astronomer, Dr D.J. Asher, there are a little more astronomers who use the term “asteroids”. Where are they found? Most of asteroids are found in the orbit between that of Mars and Jupiter. It is called “asteroid belt”. However, an increasing number of asteroids have been found in the inside of Martian orbit. They are called Near Earth Objects (NEO) and pose potential threats to the Earth. Also, a lot of them have been found in the vicinity of the orbit of the Pluto. They are called “Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt objects”. As you can see they are distributed all across our solar system. Orbital calculation On 1st January 1801 the firs
