what is an asteroid

An asteroid is a minor planet that orbits within the inner Solar System. It is a small, rocky, metallic, or icy body with no atmosphere. Most asteroids are found in the main asteroid belt, which is a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but they can also be found in other locations around the solar system. Asteroids are leftovers from the formation of the solar system and its planets approximately 4.6 billion years ago. They vary in size, shape, and composition, and they can provide scientists with valuable information about the history of the solar system. Asteroids are smaller than planets but larger than the pebble-size objects called meteoroids