Comets, Meteors, Asteroids

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A comet is a small celestial body made of ice, dust, and rocky material that orbits the Sun. When it gets close to the Sun, it develops a glowing coma and a tail.

Front

What is an asteroid?

Back

An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun, primarily found in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Front

What is a meteoroid?

Back

A meteoroid is a small particle from a comet or asteroid that is smaller than an asteroid but larger than an atom.

Front

What happens when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere?

Back

When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it burns up due to friction with the air, creating a bright streak of light known as a meteor.

Front

What is the difference between a meteor and a meteorite?

Back

A meteor is the flash of light produced when a meteoroid burns up in the atmosphere, while a meteorite is a meteoroid that survives its passage through the atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface.

Front

Where do most comets originate?

Back

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

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 approaches the Sun.

Front

Why does the tail of a comet always point away from the Sun?

Back

The tail of a comet points away from the Sun due to the solar wind and radiation pressure from the Sun.

Front

What do comets, asteroids, and meteors have in common?

Back

They all orbit the Sun.

Front

What is the largest asteroid in the asteroid belt?

Back

The largest asteroid in the asteroid belt is Ceres, which is also classified as a dwarf planet.