1. Chapter 17
Lesson 3
By Group 1

2. Vocabulary
Asteroid- A rocky mass up to several hundred km revolve around the sun
Comet- A comet is a frozen mass of different types of ice and dust orbiting the sun.
Nucleus- A very small substance that is made up of dust and ice.
Coma- A cloud of dust and evaporated gases that surrounds the nucleus.
Meteors- a shooting star
Meteoroids-a small asteroid
Meteorites-a piece of a meteor that doesn’t burn up

3. Comets Comets Comets come from areas around the solar system.
During the year, several comets travel into the solar system and orbit the sun.
Comets path is elliptical through the solar system.
A comets tail points in different directions and different spots along it’s orbit.
Fact
Halley’s comet is probably the most popular comet. It passes the sun about every 76 years
Comets come from areas around the solar system.
During the year, several comets travel into the solar system and orbit then sun.
Comets path is elliptical through the solar system.
A comets tail points in different directions and different spots along it’s orbit.
Fact
Hailey’s comet is probably the most popular comet. It passes the sun about every 76 years

4. Asteroids Sometimes called minor planets Asteroids are uneven shapes
Smaller asteroids orbit bigger ones
The smallest asteroids are pebble-sized
Most asteroids complete a revolution in 3-6 years
Most asteroids orbit the asteroid belt
The largest asteroids are spherical with a diameter of
Asteroid Ida is the main asteroid between Mars and Jupiter
Asteroid Eros became the first asteroid to be orbited and landed
upon a spacecraft.
Asteroid Ida

5. Meteors
When Earth passes through the path of a comet it causes a meteor shower.
A shooting star is a meteor
Most meteors burn up before they hit Earth’s surface because of friction.
A meteor is formed when a meteoroid hits Earth’s atmosphere.

6. Meteoroids
A meteoroid is a small asteroid. They can be about the size of a boulder or smaller. Most of the time they are the size of a pebble or a grain of sand. When a meteoroid passes through Earth's atmosphere it heats up very quickly and if it gets hot enough, it will create a glowing streak through the sky. When this occurs it is called a fireball.

7. Meteorites
A meteorite is a piece of a meteor that doesn’t burn up while the meteor is falling. It lands on Earth and creates a crater. The meteorite is usually quite small.

8. Questions Where do comets come from?
When a meteoroid creates a glowing streak through the sky what is it called?
What is a meteorite?
What is a meteor?
What are asteroids sometimes called?

9. Answers!!! Comets come from areas around the solar system.
It is called a fireball.
A meteorite is a piece of meteor that doesn’t burn up.
A meteor is a shooting star.
Asteroids are sometimes called minor planets.

10. Credits Pictures from clip art and Wikipedia.
Information from Scott Foresman Science.
Asteroids by: ChIBU Nwafor & Landon Henry
Meteors, Meteorites, and Meteoroids by: Brooke Lord & Sarah Peirce.
Comets by: Tate Hagan & Logan Campbell.