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Eros is classified as a small near-Earth asteroid, meaning its orbit around the Sun comes close to Earth's orbit. Eros is a typical stony asteroid with an irregular shape, measuring approximately 34 kilometers in length, and its surface is marked by numerous impact craters. The asteroid's interior is unstructured, composed of randomly arranged stone material, primarily silicates. A layer of stone dust and rocky debris, ranging in thickness from a few centimeters to several decimeters, covers its surface. This material is the remnant of past collisions with smaller cosmic bodies. Eros is one of the few asteroids to have been closely studied by a spacecraft. On February 12th, 2001, Eros became the first asteroid to have a spacecraft successfully land on its surface, when the American probe NEAR Shoemaker touched down. Prior to the landing, the spacecraft had spent several years orbiting and monitoring the asteroid.
