Asteroid: meaning, definitions and examples

The word 'asteroid' originates from the Greek word 'asteroeides', meaning 'star-like', derived from 'aster', meaning 'star'. It was coined in the early 19th century, specifically in 1802 by the British astronomer William Herschel, who discovered that certain celestial bodies moved like stars but were actually distinct objects. Initially, the term was used to describe the first discovered asteroids, such as Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta. As more asteroids were discovered, the term became standardized in the field of astronomy. Over time, with advances in technology and space exploration, our understanding of asteroids has evolved, leading to the classification of many different types based on their compositions, orbits, and sizes. Today, asteroids are an important subject of study in planetary science, and interest in potential resource mining from asteroids has risen significantly.

Positioned at #22,534, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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• 22531 undeserved
• 22532 iridescent
• 22533 climatological
• 22534 asteroid
• 22535 contentedly
• 22536 peremptorily
• 22537 wrenching
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