Asteroidia

Asteroidia is a hypothetical celestial body that would exist within the asteroid belt, situated between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Unlike the rocky and metallic asteroids that populate the region, Asteroidia would be a dwarf planet, large enough to have achieved hydrostatic equilibrium. This means its own gravity would have pulled it into a nearly round shape. While the asteroid belt is home to numerous objects, none currently meet the full criteria to be classified as a dwarf planet according to the International Astronomical Union. Asteroidia, if it were to exist, would be a significant member of this population, distinct from its smaller, irregularly shaped neighbors. Its composition would likely be a mix of rock and ice, similar to other dwarf planets in the solar system, and it would possess a thin atmosphere, if any, maintained by outgassing from internal heat or sublimation of surface ices. Its orbital path would be within the main asteroid belt, though it would likely have cleared its orbital neighborhood of smaller debris to a greater extent than the surrounding asteroids, a key characteristic of dwarf planet classification. The discovery of such a body would refine our understanding of the formation and evolution of the inner solar system and the dynamics of the asteroid belt.