Asteroid Watch Quiz

Nathan, Jacorey, and Precious are on a field trip to a planetarium! They come across a display and start discussing. Nathan thinks it's a light phenomenon that results when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere. Jacorey believes it's a small inactive body orbiting the Sun. Precious, however, thinks it's a small Sun-orbiting body that contains ices. Who do you think is correct?

• A light phenomenon that results when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere

• A small inactive body orbiting the Sun

• A small Sun-orbiting body that contains ices

• A small rock or particle less than about 3 feet in size

Imagine Messiah, Bryan, and Nathan are on a road trip! They come across a field of large rocks. Can you guess where on Earth they might be?

• Between the borders of Spain and France

• Between the borders of USA and Canada

• Between the borders of China and Mongolia

• Outside the border of Australia

Imagine Jacorey, Jai, and Messiah are on a field trip to a science museum. They come across a small rock or particle less than about 3 feet in size in the meteoroid exhibit. What would they call it?

• A small inactive body orbiting the Sun

• A small Sun-orbiting body that contains ices

• A meteoroid

• A light phenomenon that results when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere

Imagine Baleigh, Trevor, and Solei are on a field trip to a science museum. They come across a strange object. Baleigh thinks it's a meteorite. Can you help them identify it? What is a meteorite?

• A leftover piece of meteoroid or asteroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface

• A small rock or particle less than about 3 feet in size

• A small Sun-orbiting body that contains ices

• A small inactive body orbiting the Sun

One night, Baleigh, Anthony, and Messiah were camping and they saw a bright streak in the sky. They started discussing, what could be the fireball or bolide they just witnessed?

• A light phenomenon that results when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere

• A leftover piece of meteoroid or asteroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface

• A small inactive body orbiting the Sun

• A small Sun-orbiting body that contains ices

Travis, Messiah, and Baleigh were having a discussion about the solar system during their science class. Travis argued that an asteroid is a small inactive body orbiting the Sun. Is his statement correct?

• A small inactive body orbiting the Sun

• A small Sun-orbiting body that contains ices

• A small rock or particle less than about 3 feet in size

• A leftover piece of meteoroid or asteroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface

Nathan, Jacorey, and Travis were discussing about space rocks during their astronomy club meeting. They were confused about the difference between a meteor and a meteorite. Can you help them understand the difference?

• A meteor is a small rock or particle less than about 3 feet in size, while a meteorite is a leftover piece of meteoroid or asteroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface

• A meteor is a small Sun-orbiting body that contains ices, while a meteorite is a small inactive body orbiting the Sun

• A meteor is a small inactive body orbiting the Sun, while a meteorite is a small Sun-orbiting body that contains ices

• A meteor is a leftover piece of meteoroid or asteroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface, while a meteorite is a small rock or particle less than about 3 feet in size

Picture this, Jacorey, Anthony, and Kendra are on a field trip to the planetarium! They learn about a mysterious region in the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune. Can you guess what this region is called?

• A region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune, believed to contain many comets, asteroids, and other small bodies made largely of ice

• A region of the solar system between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, believed to contain many asteroids

• A region of the solar system between the orbits of Earth and Mars, believed to contain many meteoroids

• A region of the solar system outside the orbit of Neptune, believed to contain many meteorites