Go to previous topic
Go to next topic
Last Post 10/21/2010 9:51 PM by  Emilia Kilpua
Asteroids and comets
 1 Replies
Author Messages

Anonymous





Posts:


--
10/21/2010 2:01 PM

    What is the difference between an asteroid and a comet? (Andre at SRE)

    Emilia Kilpua



    New Member


    Posts:88
    New Member


    --
    10/21/2010 9:51 PM
    Hi Andre! The main difference between comet and asteroid is their composition. Comets are small objects that are made of icy, dust and small rocky particles. When a comet comes close to the Sun part of its material vaporizes forming a familiar cometary tail. Comets typically have highly elliptical, orbits that extend to large distances from the Sun. Asteroids are made up of rocky materials. The orbits of asteroids tend to be more circular and most of them are found in the “asteroid belt” between Mars and Jupiter. You can read more e.g. from http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/faq/


    Forums Archives of previous runs of SolarWeek Other
    ---