Psyche is a NASA mission to study a metal-rich asteroid with the same name, located in the main asteroid belt between which planets?
Current Affairs
Science
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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AMercury and Mars
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BMars and Jupiter
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CVenus and Mars
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DJupiter and Saturn
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ENone of the above
Answer
Correct Answer: Mars and Jupiter
Explanation
### Concept & Facts
The main asteroid belt in our Solar System is a torus-shaped region containing a vast majority of the system's asteroids.
### Step-by-Step Solution
* The Psyche mission, launched by NASA, aims to explore the unique metallic asteroid called 16 Psyche.
* 16 Psyche orbits the Sun within the main asteroid belt.
* The main asteroid belt is situated roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter.
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
Whenever a question asks for the location of the "main asteroid belt", the answer is always between Mars and Jupiter. This is a fundamental astronomy fact regardless of the specific asteroid (like Psyche, Ceres, or Vesta) being discussed.
### Common Pitfall
Confusing the main asteroid belt with the Kuiper belt. The Kuiper belt is located beyond Neptune, while the main asteroid belt is between the inner terrestrial planets and outer gas giants (Mars and Jupiter).
### Final Answer
Therefore, the correct answer is **Mars and Jupiter**.