Description: The term "small Solar System body" is a 2006 International Astronomical Union definition of objects orbiting the Sun whose masses are too small to be considered a planet or dwarf planet. These include asteroids, comets, and some Centaurs and trans-Neptunian objects. Historically many small Solar System bodies that are not comets and some dwarf planets were called minor planets. The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is an international organization that collects observations of asteroids, comets, and other small bodies in the Solar System. Small Solar System bodies receive a provisional designation from the MPC when discovered, a number when confirmed, and then may be named by their discoverer. Over one million small Solar System bodies have been discovered, and more than 20,000 named. Another five million small Solar System bodies are expected to be discovered in the next 10 years by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

Term and definition status: This term and its definition have been approved by a research astronomer and a teacher

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