asteroid belt

noun

: the region of interplanetary space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in which most asteroids are found

Examples of asteroid belt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Psyche was the 16th asteroid to be discovered and ranks among the dozen most massive objects in the asteroid belt. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 13 Oct. 2023 The law works for Ceres, which predicted that there should be something in the region of the asteroid belt but failed after the discovery of Neptune. Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 5 Dec. 2023 This fairly small space rock is in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 Nov. 2023 The spacecraft, built by Maxar Technologies in partnership with JPL, will swing by Mars in 2026 for a gravity-assist maneuver to slingshot into the asteroid belt, setting up for a final approach to asteroid Psyche in 2029. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 13 Oct. 2023 The robotic probe launched on October 13 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, with the primary goal of flying to the asteroid Psyche, a metal-rich world in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2023 Webb telescope detects mysterious water vapor in a nearby star system The main asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter, is where leftovers from the formation of our solar system orbit the sun. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 May 2023 An Asteroid’s Moon Doubles Down NASA’s Lucy spacecraft is currently in the main asteroid belt, cruising by its way to Jupiter—or, more accurately, to Jupiter’s orbit. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 29 Dec. 2023 The main asteroid belt is in close alignment with the ecliptic plane, or the same plane that includes Earth’s orbit around the sun. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asteroid belt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of asteroid belt was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near asteroid belt

Cite this Entry

“Asteroid belt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asteroid%20belt. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

asteroid belt

noun
: the region of interplanetary space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in which most asteroids are found

More from Merriam-Webster on asteroid belt

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