Asteroids, also called minor planets or planetoids, are a class of
astronomical objects. The term asteroid is generally used to indicate a diverse group of small celestial bodies in the
solar system that orbit around the
Sun. Asteroid (Greek for "star-like") is the most commonly used word in the English literature for
minor planets, which has been the term preferred by the
International Astronomical Union; some other languages prefer planetoid (Greek: "planet-like"), because it more accurately describes what they are. In late
August 2006, the IAU introduced the term "
small solar system bodies" (SSSBs), which includes most objects thus far classified as minor planets, as well as
comets. At the same time they introduced the term
dwarf planet for the largest minor planets. This article deals specifically with the minor planets that orbit in the inner solar system (roughly up to the orbit of
Jupiter). For information on other types of objects, such as
comets,
Trans-Neptunian objects, and
centaurs, see
Small solar system body.
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