Examples of minor planet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center, which maintains a list of (no points award for guessing correctly) minor planets within the Solar System, has a running tally.
—
Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 10 May 2024
The naming of asteroids — which are also known as minor planets or small solar system bodies — is overseen by a group of professional astronomers, part of the International Astronomical Union.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2023
First discovered in 1997, Chariklo is an icy asteroid, one of the building blocks of the solar system, but it’s also known as a minor planet.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023
Which type of space rock is also referred to as a minor planet?
—CNN, 29 Sep. 2022
Once thought to be an asteroid, it is now classified as a comet or minor planet.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2022
An incredibly rare find, it was initially classed as a minor planet.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022
This piece of Vesta, the first from the minor planet that the Field Museum has had, was found in the Sahara desert and procured from a private meteorite collector, Terry Boudreaux, who frequently donates his findings to the Field Museum.
—Mariah Rush, chicagotribune.com, 30 June 2021
Hence Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein’s initial classification as a trans-Neptunian Object (TNO), which is defined as a minor planet or dwarf planet in the Solar System that orbits the Sun at a greater average distance than Neptune.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 24 June 2021
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 10 May 2024
The naming of asteroids — which are also known as minor planets or small solar system bodies — is overseen by a group of professional astronomers, part of the International Astronomical Union.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2023
First discovered in 1997, Chariklo is an icy asteroid, one of the building blocks of the solar system, but it’s also known as a minor planet.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023
Which type of space rock is also referred to as a minor planet?
—CNN, 29 Sep. 2022
Once thought to be an asteroid, it is now classified as a comet or minor planet.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2022
An incredibly rare find, it was initially classed as a minor planet.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022
This piece of Vesta, the first from the minor planet that the Field Museum has had, was found in the Sahara desert and procured from a private meteorite collector, Terry Boudreaux, who frequently donates his findings to the Field Museum.
—Mariah Rush, chicagotribune.com, 30 June 2021
Hence Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein’s initial classification as a trans-Neptunian Object (TNO), which is defined as a minor planet or dwarf planet in the Solar System that orbits the Sun at a greater average distance than Neptune.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 24 June 2021
Dictionary Entries Near minor planet
Cite this Entry
“Minor planet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minor%20planet. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share