Small solar system bodies—along with the Sun, planets, and dwarf planets—help make up our Solar System. Small solar system bodies include things like comets, asteroids, moons, and the icy objects in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort cloud.

Close-up view of Halley's Comet as it leaves a meteor trail in the sky behind it.
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Small solar system bodies—along with the Sun, planets, and dwarf planets—help make up our Solar System. Small solar system bodies include things like comets, asteroids, moons, and the icy objects in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort cloud.

Close-up view of Halley's Comet as it leaves a meteor trail in the sky behind it.
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Stories See all Stories
AirSpace Season 9, Episode 7: Lasso the Moon AirSpace Season 8, Episode 2: Vast and Beckoning Seas Diamond in the Dark Probing Hostile Planets Why Earth? Looking for Life on Other Worlds
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Learn more Kenneth C. Griffin
Exploring the Planets Gallery
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Learn more U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
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Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Pluto's Secret" Book Talk Tune in to a special Flights of Fancy Story Time interview with the authors of the children's book Pluto's Secret. https://youtu.be/KHiQiL5K9po Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Astronomy, Science, Small solar system bodies, Solar System

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Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Pluto’s Secret" In this special author session, Margaret Weitekamp reads the book, Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery https://youtu.be/0bKXCaD4toc Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Dwarf planets, People, Science, Small solar system bodies, Solar System

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My Path: Dava Newman, Former Deputy Administrator for NASA Have you ever wondered how important people get to where they are? NASA's deputy director, Dava Newman, shares her path in this segment brought to you by STEM in 30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyylQhSl0IE&list=PL6RlkQnoCx_VvN6SkGaFShkAyOcNX8Rry&index=8 Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Human spaceflight, Moon (Earth), People, Science, Small solar system bodies, Solar System, Space Shuttle program, Spacecraft, Women

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40 Years of (Triton) Summer On Triton, Neptune’s largest moon, seasons last an average of 40 years, complete with nitrogen snow. Here’s how Triton’s summer solstice compares to Earth’s. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/40-years-triton-summer Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Grades 13-14, Grades 15-16 Small solar system bodies, Solar System, Spaceflight

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Kepler’s Laws of Orbital Motion Kepler’s laws show the effects of gravity on orbits. They apply to any object that orbits another: planets orbiting the Sun, moons orbiting a planet, spacecraft orbiting Earth. http://howthingsfly.si.edu/flight-dynamics/kepler’s-laws-orbital-motion Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Physical science, Satellites, Small solar system bodies, Solar System, Spaceflight

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Flights of Fancy Story Time: Pluto’s Secret In this special author session; Margaret Weitekamp reads the book; Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery https://youtu.be/0bKXCaD4toc Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Dwarf planets, People, Science, Small solar system bodies, Solar System

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Explore other subtopics Moon (Earth) Solar System Telescopes Dwarf planets Sun Stars Small solar system bodies Exoplanets