Imagine being an astronaut on Eros

Eros is a long narrow asteroid, approximately 33 kilometres from end to end.

Compared with a planet, Eros has a small mass, so its gravitational force is weak. If you were an astronaut on Eros, you would:

• weigh around 100 grams
• be able to jump several kilometers
• be able to throw a ball fast enought to send it into orbit

You would be able to walk completely around Eros. Although weak, its gravity would hold you as your walked down a side and along the underside. The ground would be rough - craters, large and small and enormous chunks of rock would block your way, but even in a bulky space suit, you would be able to leap over many of the obstacles.

Note: the astronauts on the figure are not drawn to scale. If they were drawn correct size, they would be too small to see.