What are rocky objects classified as C-type, S-type or M-type, named from Greek for 'star-like' that occupy a belt between Mars and Jupiter?

• A. Asteroids
• B. Comets
• C. Planets
• D. Meteors

Answer: (A)

Rocky bodies orbiting the Sun in the region between Mars and Jupiter are called asteroids. They come in spectral types such as C-type, S-type, and M-type, which describe different compositions: C-type carbon-rich dark bodies, S-type silicate-rich rocks, and M-type metallic bodies. The name asteroid comes from Greek aster, meaning star, because these objects looked like star-like points in early telescopes. This belt lies between Mars and Jupiter, separating the inner rocky planets from the outer bodies, which distinguishes them from comets that are typically icy and have tails. Planets are much larger and have cleared their orbits, while meteors are space debris that burn up in Earth's atmosphere. So these clues point to asteroids.