COMETS, ASTEROIDS, AND

METEORS- OH MY!

COMETS Definition: chunks of ice

and dust that usually has a long, narrow elliptical orbit

Comet means long haired star

COMET3 parts:

NucleusComaTail: always

points away from sun

Nucleus and coma make up the head .

FAMOUS COMETS

Hale- Bopp

MORE…

Comet Hyakutake1996

ASTEROIDSDefinition: objects that are too small and numerous to be considered planets

Very rocky

ASTEROID BELTThe region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, where many asteroids are found.

http://www.nineplanets.org/pics/compare4.jpg

MORE ASTEROID BELT…

METEORS 3 types: Meteor: a streak of light in the sky produced

by the burning of a meteoroid in Earth’s atmosphere

Meteoroid: a chunk of rock or dust in space Meteorite: a meteoroid that has hit Earth’s

surface

METEORS…