OBJECTS in Space

ASTEROIDS small, rocky bodies that revolve around the sun most asteroids orbit in the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter

ASTEROIDS thought to be material leftover from the formation of the solar system If one large enough hit Earth, it could change our climate. Debris could block out sunlight causing temps to drop and plants would not receive needed sunlight.

ASTEROIDS Plants and animals would find it difficult to survive. Leading theory explaining the extinction of the dinosaurs.

COMETS a small body of ice, rock, and dust loosely packed together “dirty snowballs” leftover from the formation of the solar system

COMETS A comet’s tail always points away from the sun due to the sun’s solar winds Come from the Oort cloud or Kuiper Belt that are near the outer edge of our solar system

METEOROIDS small, rocky body that revolves around the sun similar to asteroids but smaller

Meteors the bright streak of light caused by a meteoroid or comet dust burning up in the atmosphere (mesosphere) AKA…”shooting star”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Photo: METEORITES a meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere and strikes the ground

How can a comet become the source of meteoroids and meteors? Since a comet is made up of rock and ice , when it approaches the sun it melts and leaves behind bit of rock to orbit the sun. Soon Earth will collide with its orbit and meteors and meteorites form.

Why is information about comets, asteroids and meteoroids important for understanding the development of the solar system? It helps us learn about the formation of the solar system and the composition (what it is made up of) the Earth.

Describe how we see several impact craters on the moon but few on Earth? Planets and moons that do not have an atmosphere will have more impact craters than moons and planets that do have an atmosphere.

As the comet approaches the sun it forms a tail. How does a comet’s appearance change as it approaches the Sun? Why does this occur? As the comet approaches the sun it forms a tail. As the comet passes close to the sun, solar radiation heats the ice that makes up the comet so that the comet gives off a gas and dust which form the tail.

What causes a meteoroid to become a meteorite? This happens when the meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere and hit the ground.

Why is a “shooting star” an inaccurate name for a meteor? It is not a star. It is a bright strike of light caused by a meteorite or comet dust burning up in the atmosphere.

Why do meteoroids usually disintegrate rather than fall to the Earth? It travels so fast into the Earth’s atmosphere that the Sun’s energy melts it before it can reach the Earth.

How do the planets stay in orbit? The sun's gravity holds all the planets in orbit. Their orbits are a balance between gravity and the motion of the planet (if the planet wasn't moving, it would fall into the sun!). In the vacuum of space there is no drag to slow them down. Inertia keeps us moving.