Apollo asteroids facts for kids

The Apollo asteroids are a special group of asteroids that travel close to Earth. They are named after 1862 Apollo, the very first asteroid of this type ever found by Karl Wilhelm Reinmuth. These asteroids actually cross Earth's orbit, which means their paths around the Sun sometimes intersect with our planet's path. Because of this, some Apollo asteroids can get quite close to Earth. Scientists keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't pose a threat to our planet.

What are Apollo Asteroids?

Apollo asteroids are a type of Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA). This means their orbits bring them close to Earth. They are called "Earth-crossing" asteroids because their path around the Sun crosses Earth's path. Imagine two race tracks, one for Earth and one for the asteroid. Sometimes, these tracks overlap!

How are they different from other asteroids?

Most asteroids are found in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Apollo asteroids, however, have orbits that bring them much closer to the Sun, and often, closer to Earth. This makes them especially interesting for scientists to study.

Famous Apollo Asteroids

Many Apollo asteroids have been discovered over the years. Here are a few well-known examples:

• 1862 Apollo (discovered in 1932): This is the asteroid that gave the group its name. It was the first one of its kind to be found.
• 1566 Icarus (discovered in 1949): This asteroid is famous for having one of the closest approaches to the Sun of any known asteroid.
• 4179 Toutatis (discovered in 1989): Toutatis is a well-studied asteroid that has made several close passes by Earth. Scientists have even used radar to get detailed images of its shape.
• 25143 Itokawa (discovered in 1998): This asteroid was visited by the Japanese Hayabusa spacecraft, which collected samples and brought them back to Earth!
• Chebarkul (impacted Earth in 2013): This was a small Apollo asteroid that entered Earth's atmosphere over Russia. It caused a large airburst and shattered, but most pieces burned up before hitting the ground.

Why are they important?

Studying Apollo asteroids helps us understand the early history of our Solar System. They are like time capsules from when the planets were forming. Also, by tracking their movements, scientists can predict if any of them might come too close to Earth in the future. This helps us prepare and understand potential risks.

See also

In Spanish: Asteroide Apolo para niños