Astronomy: Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors

A comet is often called a dirty snowball. Explain what a comet is made of and what happens when it gets close to the Sun.

An asteroid is a rocky object that orbits the Sun. Most asteroids in our solar system are found in a region between which two planets?

Choose the best word to complete the sentence: A streak of light seen in the night sky when a small space rock burns up in Earth's atmosphere is called a meteor, meteorite, or asteroid.

Explain the difference between a meteoroid and a meteorite.

A student says, "Comets and asteroids are exactly the same because they both orbit the Sun." Explain why this statement is not correct.

Look at the imaginary object described here: It is mostly rock and metal, has no tail, and orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Is it most likely a comet, asteroid, or meteor? Explain your answer.

Why does a comet's tail usually point away from the Sun?

Put these events in the correct order: A small rock travels through space, it enters Earth's atmosphere and glows, a piece lands on the ground.

A meteor shower happens when Earth passes through a trail of dust left behind by a comet. Why do we see many meteors during a meteor shower?

Circle all the objects that orbit the Sun: comets, asteroids, meteoroids, Earth's Moon.

A rock from space makes a crater when it hits a planet or moon. What is a crater, and what can it tell scientists?

Which object would most likely grow a visible tail as it gets closer to the Sun: an asteroid or a comet? Explain your answer.

Read the clues: This object is small, rocky, and burns up before reaching the ground. What is it called while it is glowing in the atmosphere?

Draw or describe one way a comet and an asteroid are alike and one way they are different.