asteroid belt

[ as-tuh-roid belt ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. the region in space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, containing the greatest population of asteroids in our solar system: comprising about half the mass of the asteroid belt are its four largest asteroids, namely, Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, and Hygieia.

asteroid belt

1. A region of the solar system between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter . Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt.

Word History and Origins

Origin of asteroid belt¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

The asteroid, which scientists refer to as 2024 PT5, hails from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which contains rocks that follow an orbit quite similar to Earth’s.

From BBC

The Arjuna asteroid belt contains a diverse array of asteroids and comets which periodically wander into our neighborhood.

From Salon

The object is part of the Arjuna asteroid belt.

From Los Angeles Times

After skimming the inner edge of the main asteroid belt, Lucy heads back toward Earth for a gravity assist in December 2024.

From Science Daily

The team derived the age of Selam, a "moonlet" circling the small asteroid Dinkinesh in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, based only on dynamics, or how the pair moves in space.

From Science Daily