Noun
any of numerous small celestial bodies that move around the sun
Source: WordNetWe are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special. Stephen Hawking
According to the IAU, "the term 'minor planet' may still be used, but generally the term 'Small Solar System Body' will be preferred." Source: Internet
On 24 December 2004, minor planet 99942 Apophis (at the time known by its provisional designation 2004 MN 4 ) was assigned a 4 on the Torino scale, the highest rating ever achieved, as there was a 2.7% chance of Earth impact on 13 April 2029. Source: Internet
The asteroid is the first known example of the stable solution of the three-body problem worked out by French mathematician Joseph Lagrange in 1772, after whom the minor planet 1006 Lagrangea is named. Source: Internet
In 2007, co-author Gary Emerson's Tyrone Observatory obtained the largest image data in history on the minor planet Vesta, in support of the NASA space mission DAWN. Source: Internet
Today it is classified as both a minor planet and a comet, and is accordingly also known by the cometary designation "95P/Chiron". Source: Internet