Comets, Asteroids, and Meteoroids

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What is a comet?

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A comet is a small celestial body made of ice, dust, and rocky material that, when passing close to the Sun, heats up and begins to release gases, forming a glowing coma and a tail.

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What is an asteroid?

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

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What is a meteoroid?

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A meteoroid is a small particle from a comet or asteroid that is in space.

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What happens when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere?

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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.

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What is a meteorite?

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

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What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

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

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What is the tail of a comet made of?

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The tail of a comet is made of gas and dust that is released when the comet approaches the Sun.

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What are shooting stars?

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Shooting stars are actually meteors, which are the visible paths of meteoroids as they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

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What is the asteroid belt?

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

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What are the main components of a comet?

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The main components of a comet are the nucleus (solid core), coma (cloud of gas and dust), and the tail.