Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids

Front

Gas and dust form a fuzzy outer layer around a comet's head, called a ______________________.

Back

Coma

Front

The asteroid belt passes between the orbits of which two planets?

Back

Mars and Jupiter

Front

A doughnut-shaped region of comets that extends from beyond Neptune's orbit to about 100 times Earth's distance from the sun is called the _____________________.

Back

Kuiper Belt

Front

The craters on the moon were caused by the impact of _________________.

Back

Meteorites

Front

A rocky object that revolves around the sun, but is too small to be considered a planet is called an _____________________.

Back

Asteroid

Front

What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Back

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

Front

What is the tail of a comet made of?

Back

The tail of a comet is made of gas and dust that is released when the comet gets close to the sun.

Front

What is the Oort Cloud?

Back

The Oort Cloud is a theoretical cloud of icy objects that is believed to surround the solar system.

Front

What are meteoroids?

Back

Meteoroids are small rocky or metallic bodies in outer space, smaller than asteroids.

Front

What happens when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere?

Back

It becomes a meteor and produces a bright streak of light in the sky.