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Comets, Asteroids and Meteors

Chapter 20

A loose collection of ice, dust and small rocky particles

Orbits are very long and narrow ellipses Comprised of 2 parts: Head and Tail Originate from either Kuiper belt or Oort

cloud

Comets

Two Parts: Head and Tail Comet’s Head: Comprised of Coma and

Nucleus Brightest part of comet

Nucleus is the solid inner core Coma: Clouds of gas and dust

Coma created by Suns energy Comet Tail: Sun heats up gas and dust of

comet creating tail Tail always points away from Sun

Anatomy of a Comet

Comet

Comet

Comet

Comet in orbit

Asteroids: rocky objects too small to be considered Planets

Revolve around Sun between Mars and Jupiter Asteroid Belt

Asteroids

Asteroids

Asteroids

Asteroids

Meteoroids: Chunks of rock or dust in space Come from comets or asteroids

Meteor: Created as a meteoroid enters the atmosphere

Meteorite: Meteoroids that pass through atmosphere and hit Earths Surface

Meteoroids

Meteor

Meteor Shower