Our solar system’s small bodies pack outsized intrigue
Rocky leftovers from planet formation.
Cosmic snowballs of gas and dust.
AKA “shooting stars,” the spectacle of debris falling and burning through the atmosphere.
Overview
Asteroids, comets, and meteoroids are chunks of rock, ice, and metal left over from the formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago.
COMET 3i/atlas
Interstellar Comet, Passing Through the Solar System
Only the third known object to venture into our solar system from interstellar space, Comet 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth, but is taking a tour past our celestial neighbors. NASA has been studying the icy visitor with space telescopes including Hubble, Webb, and SPHEREx. The comet passed Mars on Oct. 3, continued its trajectory to pass behind the Sun in late October, and will venture past Jupiter in March 2026, on its way out of our solar system.
Learn More About Comet 3I/ATLAS
Asteroids and Comets
Latest Count
Get an up-to-date count of asteroids and comets in our solar system.
Eyes on Asteroids
Asteroid and Comet Resources
Explore this page for a curated collection of resources, including activities that can be done at home, as well as videos and animations, images, handouts, and online interactives. This resource package is suitable for educators, students, and anyone interested in learning more about asteroids and comets!
More Resources
Lucy Mission Resource Package
Activities that can be done at home as well as videos, animations, stories, and articles.
For Kids: Asteroids, Comets & Meteors
Facts and activities for K-4 explorers.
NASA Photojournal: Small Bodies
Shooting stars are actually bits of debris that fall through our atmosphere.
Keep Exploring
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