Asteroids & Comets

Front

What is an asteroid?

Back

A small rocky body that orbits the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A celestial object made of ice, dust, and rocky material that, when close to the Sun, displays a visible atmosphere (coma) and sometimes a tail.

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 Earth's atmosphere and burns up.

Front

What is the asteroid belt?

Back

A region of space located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where a large number of asteroids are found.

Front

What are the main components of a comet?

Back

Comets are primarily made of ice and rock.

Front

What shape are the orbits of comets?

Back

The orbits of comets are elliptical or oval.

Front

What is Ceres?

Back

Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt and was classified as a dwarf planet.

Front

How big are most meteors when they enter Earth's atmosphere?

Back

Most meteors are about the size of a grain of sand or a small pebble.

Front

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

Back

It becomes a meteor and produces a bright streak of light as it burns up.

Front

What is the difference between an asteroid and a meteoroid?

Back

An asteroid is a larger rocky body that orbits the Sun, while a meteoroid is a smaller fragment that can originate from asteroids or comets.