April 19, 2024

We Asked a NASA Scientist: What’s the Difference Between Asteroids, Comets and Meteors? [Video]

Whats the difference in between asteroids, meteors and comets? A lot of asteroids are discovered in a ring between the orbit of Mars and Jupiter called the asteroid belt.
A comet likewise orbits the Sun, but unlike an asteroid, its composed of ice and dust. A meteoroid is a little piece of asteroid or a comet, usually pebble-sized, but could be a little smaller or a little larger, and often developed from an accident.

Whats the distinction between asteroids, comets and meteors? Differences aside, these fascinating objects are all deserving of study.

Well, theyre all planetary items orbiting the Sun. An asteroid is a small, rocky things and when seen in a telescope, it looks like a point of light. The majority of asteroids are found in a ring in between the orbit of Mars and Jupiter called the asteroid belt.
Some asteroids are round, some are lengthened, and some even have a satellite. A comet also orbits the Sun, however unlike an asteroid, its made up of ice and dust. So, when a comet gets near to the Sun, its ice and dust content start to vaporize. So, when seen in a telescope, a comet appears fuzzy and/or has a tail.
A meteoroid is a little piece of asteroid or a comet, normally pebble-sized, however could be a little smaller sized or a little bigger, and often developed from a crash. When a meteoroid gets close to the Earth and enters the Earths atmosphere, its called a meteor. If you have actually seen a shooting star, you likely saw a meteor.
Whats the distinction in between asteroids, meteors, and comets? Well, asteroids are rocky, comets are icy, and meteors are much smaller and are the shooting stars that you see up in the sky.