There is leftover debris from the formation of our solar system in space. This leftover debris is known as asteroids. The largest asteroid belt is between Mars and Jupiter because of Jupiter's strong gravitaional pull- this is known as the asteroid belt. steroids can range up to 1000km and have pitted surfaces. There are many different terms for different types of asteroids. The largest asteroid belt is between Mars and Jupiter because of Jupiter's strong gravitaional pull- this is known as the asteroid belt.
Meteoroid- when asteroids break into fragments, fall and enter Earth's atmosphere, they become meteoroids.
Meteor- when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up in the process, creating a bright, streak of light behind it, the meteoroid becomes a meteor.
Meteorite- if the meteoroid does not burn up completely when it enters Earth's atmosphere and collides with the ground it becomes known as a meteorite.
Comets are different from asteroids. Comets are small, icy bodies with a highly eccentric orbit around the sun. The Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud are the two major comet belts. Once the comet comes within 3 AU of the sun, the comet begins to burn up and develops a bright stream of light, or a tail. The head of the comet is known as the coma and the core is known as the nucleus. When the nucleus is heated, it expels gas which causes the tail. There are periodic comets when comets orbit the sun periodically.
Meteoroid- when asteroids break into fragments, fall and enter Earth's atmosphere, they become meteoroids.
Meteor- when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up in the process, creating a bright, streak of light behind it, the meteoroid becomes a meteor.
Meteorite- if the meteoroid does not burn up completely when it enters Earth's atmosphere and collides with the ground it becomes known as a meteorite.
Comets are different from asteroids. Comets are small, icy bodies with a highly eccentric orbit around the sun. The Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud are the two major comet belts. Once the comet comes within 3 AU of the sun, the comet begins to burn up and develops a bright stream of light, or a tail. The head of the comet is known as the coma and the core is known as the nucleus. When the nucleus is heated, it expels gas which causes the tail. There are periodic comets when comets orbit the sun periodically.