×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Sunday
22
Feb 2026
weather symbol
Athens 10°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

What’s the smallest known asteroid? What about the largest?

Not all asteroids are planet killers

Newsroom March 9 07:25

Asteroids constantly zoom around our solar system and sometimes smash into planets, including Earth. As such, in the name of planetary defense NASA conducted a test, dubbed DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test), to deflect a space rock like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs (or the one Bruce Willis blew up at the end of the movie Armageddon).

>Related articles

“One step from disaster”: the hard-hitting NASA report on the adventure of astronauts Wilmore and Williams

What qualities does a good astronaut have for the mission to the Moon? The requirements of NASA

Sick astronaut on mission – NASA considers early return of International Space Station crew

Not all asteroids are planet killers, however. While some are monster-size, others are quite tiny. So, what are the largest and smallest asteroids on record in the solar system?

In short, the largest asteroid in the solar system is Ceres, which at nearly 590 miles (950 kilometers) across is about one-quarter the size of the moon. The smallest asteroid is more difficult to pin down; the smallest asteroid officially recognized by NASA (opens in new tab), known as asteroid 2015 TC25, is 6 feet (2 meters) across. Some definitions purport that asteroids must be at least 3 feet (1 m) across(opens in new tab), but not all scientists agree about this size limitation.

more at livescience.com

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#NASA asteroids#space#stars#universe
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

A “Hexagon” of alliances with India, Greece, Cyprus & Arab states sought by Netanyahu against Shiite and Sunni extremism

February 22, 2026

Gunman armed with rifle and gasoline can shot dead by Secret Service at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Estate

February 22, 2026

Marc poll for Proto Thema: ND at 31.4% in vote estimate, Mitsotakis “playing solo” on suitability for Prime Minister

February 22, 2026

Critical Hours in the Middle East: Why an attack on Iran is far riskier than the arrest of Maduro

February 22, 2026

Earthquake at Buckingham: Charles was warned since 2019 about Prince Andrew’s “secret deals”

February 22, 2026

Marc poll for “Proto Thema”: ND at 31.4%, Mitsotakis “playing” without a rival

February 22, 2026

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Hydrocarbon exploration guarantees security against those who challenge our sovereign rights

February 22, 2026

Water scarcity: Better news for Lake Mornos after the rains – “We must not become complacent,” experts say

February 22, 2026
All News

> World

Gunman armed with rifle and gasoline can shot dead by Secret Service at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Estate

Security forces did not release information about the identity of the 20-year-old, but during the press conference they displayed the rifle in a photograph — Trump was not at Mar-a-Lago

February 22, 2026

Critical Hours in the Middle East: Why an attack on Iran is far riskier than the arrest of Maduro

February 22, 2026

Earthquake at Buckingham: Charles was warned since 2019 about Prince Andrew’s “secret deals”

February 22, 2026

Trump raised the new tariffs to 15% on all imports from all countries

February 21, 2026

Venezuela: Amnesty granted to 379 political prisoners

February 21, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα