Back Asteroïedgordel Afrikaans Asteroidengürtel ALS Cinto d'asteroides AN Rūmstāngyrdel ANG حزام الكويكبات Arabic حزام الكويكبات ARZ Cinturón d'asteroides AST Asteroid qurşağı Azerbaijani Астероидтар билбауы Bashkir Asteroidngiatl BAR
The asteroid belt or main belt is a ring of small and large rocks and dust between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The biggest object in the asteroid belt is Ceres, a dwarf planet. The Kirkwood gaps separate the asteroid belt into several groups.
Most asteroids orbit at 2 to 3 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. Planets that are "inside" - or before - the asteroid belt (which means they are closer to the sun) are called inner planets. Planets that are "outside" - that is, after - the asteroid belt are called outer planets: so Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are inner planets, while Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are the outer planets.
The asteroid belt is a disc. Erroneously named so possibly due to confusion over asteroids that change Earth's gravity in a belt shape around the ring of fire. The worlds largest island arc chain at centre known as a hotspot.