Small Bodies - Comets, Meteors, Meteoroids, Meteorites, and Asteroids
Asteroid, Comet or Meteor? Quiz (Discovery Kids)
Small Bodies of the Solar System (NASA)
Space Object Differences (Science Kids)
Comets (Astronomy for Kids)
Can you match the vocabulary word to the correct definition?
Vocabulary
Comet Tails
Ion Tails
Ellipses
Comet
Asteroid
Asteroid Belt
Meteoroid
Meteorite
Meteor
Definitions:
- a meteoroid that reaches Earth’s surface without burning up completely
- when the comet gets close enough to the sun, solar radiation heats the ice so that the comet gives off gas and dust to form a tail
- the region of the solar system that is between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter and in which most asteroids orbit
- circles that are somewhat stretched out in shape
- a bright streak of light that results when a meteoroid burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere
- electrically charged particles
- a small, rocky object that orbits the sun, usually in a band between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
- A small body of ice, rock, and cosmic dust that follows an elliptical orbit around the sun and gives off gas and dust in the form of a tail as it passes close to the sun
- A relatively small rocky body that travels through space
Comet
- A comet is a relatively small solar system body that orbits the Sun. When close enough to the Sun they display a visible coma (a fuzzy outline or atmosphere due to solar radiation) and sometimes a tail.
Asteroid
- Asteroids are small solar system bodies that orbit the Sun. Made of rock and metal, they can also contain organic compounds. Asteroids are similar to comets but do not have a visible coma (fuzzy outline and tail) like comets do.
Meteoroid
- A meteoroid is a small rock or particle of debris in our solar system. They range in size from dust to around 10 metres in diameter (larger objects are usually referred to as asteroids).
Meteor
-
A meteoroid that burns up as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere is known as a meteor. If you’ve ever looked up at the sky at night and seen a streak of light or ‘shooting star’ what you are actually seeing is a meteor.
Meteorite
- A meteoroid that survives falling through the Earth’s atmosphere and colliding with the Earth’s surface is known as a meteorite.