Comets, Meteors, Asteroids

Front

What is a meteor?

Back

A meteor is a rock or particle from space that enters a planet's atmosphere and produces a bright streak of light as it burns up.

Front

Where do most comets originate?

Back

Most comets come from the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, which are located beyond Neptune's orbit.

Front

What happens to comets after they orbit the sun frequently?

Back

After orbiting the sun frequently, comets can break into smaller pieces called meteoroids.

Front

What is a comet often referred to as?

Back

A comet is sometimes called a 'dirty snowball' because it is made of ice, dust, and rocky material.

Front

What are the main parts of a comet?

Back

The main parts of a comet include the nucleus, coma, and hydrogen cloud.

Front

What is the difference between an asteroid and a meteoroid?

Back

An asteroid is larger than a meteoroid; asteroids are typically found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Front

What is a meteoroid?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rock or particle from space that is smaller than an asteroid.

Front

What is a meteorite?

Back

A meteorite is a meteoroid that survives its passage through the atmosphere and lands on the surface of a planet.

Front

What is the asteroid belt?

Back

The asteroid belt is a region of space located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where many asteroids are found.

Front

What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Back

Comets are made of ice and dust and develop tails when near the sun, while asteroids are made mostly of rock and metal.