Small Bodies

A multitude of objects in the Solar System

The Solar System is home to millions of small bodies, including asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets. These objects, often modest in size but essential for understanding the history of the Solar System, are distributed across different regions according to their origin and composition.

Asteroids and dwarf planets: worlds at the frontiers

Most asteroids are concentrated in the belt located between Mars and Jupiter, a remnant of material that never managed to form a planet. Dwarf planets, such as Pluto, evolve in the peripheral zones, notably near the Kuiper Belt, where many icy objects orbit.

Comets, messengers from the outer reaches

Comets come mainly from the Kuiper Belt and the vast Oort Cloud. Made of ice and dust, they light up as they approach the Sun, forming a spectacular tail. Studying them offers valuable insight into the primitive materials that shaped the Solar System.

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