COMETS, METEORS, ASTEROIDS

Front

What is a meteorite?

Back

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

Front

What shape do comet paths typically take?

Back

Comet paths are typically elliptical.

Front

What is the coma of a comet?

Back

The coma is the cloud of gas and dust surrounding the solid icy nucleus of a comet.

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A comet is an object made of dust, ice, and gases that usually has a tail when it approaches the sun.

Front

Where is a meteoroid found?

Back

A meteoroid is found in space.

Front

What is the difference between a meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space, a meteor is the streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, and a meteorite is a meteoroid that reaches Earth's surface.

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 causes a comet's tail?

Back

A comet's tail is caused by the solar wind and radiation pressure from the sun, which pushes gas and dust away from the comet as it approaches the sun.

Front

What is the nucleus of a comet?

Back

The nucleus is the solid, icy core of a comet, made up of frozen gases, dust, and rocky material.

Front

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

Back

When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it heats up and produces a bright streak of light known as a meteor.