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

Its surface would lie even further from the asteroid belt, meaning all of us including planet Mars would be in the belly of the red beast.

Read more on Space Scoop

Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter lies a stretch of space rocks known as the main asteroid belt.

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In addition to these two impacts, existing evidence suggests three smaller asteroids also hit Earth during this time -- the late Eocene epoch -- pointing to a disturbance in our solar system's asteroid belt.

Read more on Science Daily

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.

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on Salon