Comets, Asteroids, and Meteoroids...Oh My!

Front

What is a meteorite?

Back

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

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What do we call the streak of light we see in the sky when a meteoroid burns up in the atmosphere?

Back

A meteor.

Front

Where do most asteroids in our solar system reside?

Back

In the Asteroid Belt, which is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Front

What happens to a meteor as it enters the Earth's atmosphere?

Back

It burns up due to friction with the atmosphere.

Front

What is an asteroid?

Back

An asteroid is a large, rocky object that orbits the Sun, primarily found in the Asteroid Belt.

Front

What is a meteoroid?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space, smaller than an asteroid.

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What is a comet?

Back

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

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What is the difference between a meteoroid and a meteor?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rock or particle in space, while a meteor is the flash of light produced when a meteoroid burns up in the Earth's atmosphere.

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What is the Oort Cloud?

Back

The Oort Cloud is a theoretical cloud of icy objects that is believed to exist at the farthest reaches of our solar system, beyond the Kuiper Belt.

Front

What is the Kuiper Belt?

Back

The Kuiper Belt is a region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune, populated with small icy bodies and dwarf planets.