Is the Asteroid Belt Dangerous to Fly Through?
No. The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter may contain one to two million asteroids larger than a kilometre, but it is so vast that the average distance between sizeable rocks is about a million kilometres. Spacecraft fly straight through it.
Why is it so easy to fly through?
Because the belt is enormous. Its width spans approximately one astronomical unit, the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, and the volume of this asteroid “doughnut” is about 2 × 10²⁶ km³.
Key facts
- The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter.
- It may hold one to two million asteroids more than one kilometre across.
Where can I read the full story?
This is a short version of “How Many Asteroids Are There in the Asteroid Belt?” from OYLA 12+, Vol. 8, Issue 8. Every issue of OYLA 12+ answers readers’ questions about science.
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