Since 2020, aggregated from related topics
Asteroid composition refers to the study of the mineralogical and chemical makeup of asteroids, which are small rocky bodies that orbit the Sun. Scientists study asteroid composition to learn more about the origin and evolution of asteroids, as well as the formation and early stages of the solar system. By analyzing the composition of asteroids, researchers can gain insights into the types of materials that were present in the early solar nebula and the processes that have shaped asteroids over time. This research area often involves the analysis of meteorites, which are fragments of asteroids that have landed on Earth, as well as spacecraft missions to study asteroids up close.