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Small solar system body

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(Redirected from Minor planet)

A small Solar System body (SSSB) is a term defined in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union to describe solar system objects which are not planets or dwarf planets:

All other objects orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as "Small Solar System Bodies" ... These currently include most of the Solar System asteroids, most Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), comets, and other small bodies.[1]

Therefore, it refers to these objects that can be further grouped based on their orbit or what they are made of:

Some of the larger "small Solar System bodies" may be reclassified in future as dwarf planets, pending further examination to determine whether or not they are in hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly-round shape).

References

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  1. "Definitions as voted on". Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2006-10-13.