Transcript Comets, Asteriods, and Meteors

Write the Stuff in WHITE in your notebook!
READ the Stuff in Blue.
Comet, Asteroid, Meteor Notes
COMETS

A small, frozen mass of dust and gas
revolving around the sun.

Comets have 3 parts: The nucleus, the
coma, and the tail.

A Comets tail always points away from
the sun.

Comets usually orbit in the Kuiper Belt
or the Oort Cloud.
Asteriods

A rock, or Minor Planet orbiting the Sun.

Most asteroids are found in the asteroid
belt – between Mars and Jupiter.

Some asteriods are big enough to have
names. Most are pretty small
Comets
VS. Asteroids
(Draw this in your notebook)
Sort the phrases below into “comet” or “asteroid”
descriptions on the table you just drew in your notebook.
Made up of ice
and dust
Have orbits
similar to the
planets
Have orbits that
are more
elliptical and
tilted than the
planets
Do not form tails Orbit the Sun in
the same
direction as the
planets
Found between
Mars and
Jupiter
Form tails when Found in the
they get close to Kuiper Belt or
the sun
the Oort Cloud
Made up of
rocks and
metals
May or may not
orbit in the
same direction
as the planets
Meteors, Meteoroids, Meteorites:

Meteoroids -- Any small object in Outer
Space, such as dust or a rock.

Meteor -- A shooting star, observed when
a particle of dust or a rock enters into the
Earth's atmosphere. They burn up.

Meteorite -- An object from Outer Space,
such as a rock, that falls into the Earth and
lands on its surface.

Wow! Great Job! You are finished with
your notes.
Check out the links below to learn more
about comets, asteroids, and meteors!
 http://www.kidsastronomy.com/asteroid.htm
 http://www.kidsastronomy.com/comets.htm
 http://www.kidsastronomy.com/meteorites.h
tm
