2007-04-16 02:13:56 · 10 answers · asked by pouria t 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Because there aren't enough of them. Even if they were all collected together to make a planet, that planet would be really small. Smaller than the Moon I believe. And they are spread so thinly through the space around the Sun, that no two ever come within sight of each other, or at least only rarely do. The asteroid belt is not like the movies at all. It isn't a dense swarm where you have to dodge them to pass through. When we send space craft to Jupiter or Saturn or whatever, no special precautions are needed when passing through the asteroid belt. We just pretend there are no asteroids and go right through with no problem. The chance of an accidental collision is billions to one against.
2007-04-16 02:20:09 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you mean the asteroids in the Main Asteroid Belt, this is because of the presence of Jupiter and its strong gravitational influence on them. We now know that these asteroids are NOT the product of a planet that broke down into pieces, instead they are rocks in space that were never able to form something else (a planet for example).
2007-04-16 04:01:29 · answer #2 · answered by stardom65 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do but not so much around here any more. Takes a whole lot of debris and planet forming is more, it seems, from star formation and systems forming from it. Asteroids are more of a product of the breakdown of systems after the fact.
2007-04-20 01:20:07 · answer #3 · answered by mike453683 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They did at one time.
We are the result of one of these get togethers.
Most of the planetary debris in the solar system has been used up so we probably won't see any more planet building activity from now on.
2007-04-16 02:32:35 · answer #4 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They aren't all that close together. If they were going to create a planet, they'd pretty much need to all crash into each other in order to get enough mass to pull themselves into a spherical shape. And they are so far away that they just don't collide like that.
2007-04-16 03:18:46 · answer #5 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jupiter. It's too close to the asteroid belt and it's gravity keeps things too stirred up.
2007-04-16 11:47:05 · answer #6 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you need more than just asteroids, you also need hydrogen, nitrogen as well, and fire, mix well, then you might have a planet of your own.
2007-04-19 22:40:03 · answer #7 · answered by third3dynasty 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are pieces of a broken planet. (or moon) They don't "get together" for the same reason the vase you dropped that shattered into a million pieces doesn't get back together. It's broken.
2007-04-16 02:18:36 · answer #8 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They try to, but there's always lots of alcohol at their get-togethers, and they end up getting plastered and forget to make planets!
2007-04-16 02:18:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
they do, but it takes a very long time
2007-04-19 08:35:49 · answer #10 · answered by hilltopobservatory 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋