Schematic illustration showing the layout and position of the asteroid belt. This is a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids (small bodies of rock, carbon and iron) orbit the Sun. The innermost edge is at about 2 astronomical units (AU), with orbital periods of around 3 years. The outermost edge is at 3.3 AU, with orbital periods up to about 6 years. The belt is not flat, confined to the ecliptic (the Earth's orbit). Instead it rises out of the ecliptic, being shaped somewhat like a donut. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Garlick, Mark |
Bildgröße: | 4016 px × 4351 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |