Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A comet is a small celestial body made of ice, gas, and dust that, when close to the Sun, develops a glowing coma and a tail.

Front

What does the tail of a comet consist of?

Back

The tail of a comet consists of gas and dust that are released from the nucleus as it approaches the Sun.

Front

Where is the asteroid belt located?

Back

The asteroid belt is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Front

What is the Oort Cloud?

Back

The Oort Cloud is a distant region of space beyond Neptune that is believed to be the source of most long-period comets.

Front

What causes a comet's tail to point away from the Sun?

Back

A comet's tail points away from the Sun due to the solar wind, which is a stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun.

Front

What is the difference between a meteoroid and a meteor?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rock or particle from space, while a meteor is the streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up.

Front

What is a meteorite?

Back

A meteorite is a meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on the Earth's surface.

Front

What is the composition of a comet often described as?

Back

The composition of a comet is often described as a 'dirty snowball' due to its mixture of ice, gas, and dust.

Front

What are asteroids primarily made of?

Back

Asteroids are primarily made of rock and metal.

Front

What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Back

Comets are made of ice and dust, while asteroids are made mostly of rock and metal.