Objective – Describe the characteristics of comets, asteroids, and meteors.
Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors Notes
Asteroids
1. Asteroids are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
2. Characteristics of asteroids:
 There are over 100,000 asteroids.
 Vesta is the largest asteroid. It is about 330 miles in diameter.
 Size range – From 330 miles to 100 yards.
 Irregular-shaped bodies.
 Some asteroids have moons.
Comets
1. Are made of icy and rocky material.
 Called dirty snowballs.
-or Called icy dirtballs.
2. Three parts of a comet.
 Nucleus – Made of ice, frozen ammonia, dry ice, rocks and dirt.
 Coma – Vaporized gases that surround the nucleus.
 Tail – made of gas and dirt pushed away from comet by the solar wind.
3. From where do comets come?
 Kuiper Belt - Found beyond the orbit of Neptune.
 Oort Cloud - Found around one light year from the Sun.
Objective – Describe the characteristics of comets, asteroids, and meteors.
Meteors, Meteoroids, Meteorites
1. Are made of rocks and dirt.
2. Meteoroid – The piece of rock and/or dirt found in space.
3. Meteor – The piece of rock and/or dirt when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.
 Also known as a shooting or falling star.
4. Meteorite – The piece of rock and/or dirt that hits the Earth’s surface.