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Glite Dictionary
Apollo asteroid

Apollo asteroid

8.0
An asteroid whose path crosses Earth's orbit
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : asteroide Apolo
  • The discovery of another Apollo asteroid raised new concerns about planetary defense.

Examples

  • Scientists are monitoring the orbit of the Apollo asteroid to assess any potential impact risk.

  • Many Apollo asteroids pass close to Earth but pose no immediate threat.

  • The Apollo asteroid was discovered in the early 20th century.

  • Many Apollo asteroids could potentially impact Earth.

  • Astronomers tracked the Apollo asteroid as it approached Earth's orbit.

  • The Apollo asteroid named 1862 Apollo orbits the sun and crosses Earth's path.

  • Researchers studied the impact potential of the Apollo asteroid on Earth's future.

Synonyms

Apollo
vsApollo asteroid
  • Specialized
8.6

A type of asteroid whose path crosses Earth's orbit

is the class of orbit-crossing asteroids named after one example

Surface Forms

Apollo asteroid singular
Apollo asteroids plural

Morphology

Apollo + asteroid

Compositionally this is 'Apollo' (a proper name) + 'asteroid', so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to an asteroid associated with or named after Apollo. However, the specific technical sense — that it belongs to a group of asteroids whose orbits cross Earth's — requires domain knowledge about asteroid classification and is not predictable from the constituents alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The noun Apollo asteroid is named after the first small rock called Apollo, and the word asteroid shows it is a space rock whose path around the Sun cuts across Earth's path. So, the name is used for any space rock that 'crosses Earth's orbit'.