Asteroidids

Asteroidids are a hypothetical class of celestial bodies that bridge the gap between asteroids and planets. The term itself is not officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the body responsible for classifying celestial objects. However, the concept of asteroidids has been discussed in astronomical circles as a way to categorize larger rocky bodies in the solar system that do not meet the criteria for being classified as a dwarf planet or a full-fledged planet.

The defining characteristic of an asteroidid would be its size and mass, which would be substantial enough to pull itself into a roughly spherical shape due to its own gravity, a process known as hydrostatic equilibrium. This is a key criterion in the IAU's definition of a planet. However, an asteroidid would also be unable to clear its orbital neighborhood of other smaller objects, which is another requirement for planetary status. This means that an asteroidid would share its orbital path with numerous other asteroids or debris.

Currently, objects like Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt, are classified as dwarf planets. Ceres is massive enough to be spherical but has not cleared its orbit. If the concept of asteroidids were adopted, bodies like Ceres might fall into this category. The ongoing exploration of the solar system and the discovery of new celestial bodies continue to fuel discussions about refining our classification systems, and the idea of asteroidids represents one potential avenue for such refinement, though it remains speculative.