Asteroids: 10 Interesting Facts About These Space Rocks

By Elizabeth Howell February 2, 2015
Asteroids: 10 Interesting Facts About These Space Rocks

  • Dark C (carbonaceous) asteroids, which make up most asteroids and are in the outer belt. They're believed to be close to the Sun's composition, with little hydrogen or helium or other "volatile" elements.

  • Bright S (silicaceous) asteroids and are in the inner belt. They tend to be metallic iron with some silicates of iron and magnesium.

  • Bright M (metallic) asteroids. They sit in the middle of the asteroid belt and are mostly made up of metallic iron.