Asteroids, Meteors, and Comets

By Rachel Sticka

http://www.dlr.de/pf/en/Portaldata/6/Resources/asteroiden_und_kometen/pic_asteroids_1.jpg

What are Asteroids, Meteors & Comets?

Comets, asteroids, and meteors are often grouped together since they are all basically the same thing: small pieces of rock and/or ice that aren't part of a major planet.http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/comets.phphttp://www.arcetri.astro.it/irlab/Astro/astromirror/nineplanets/pics/compare4.jpghttp://www.wallpapers-free.org/49/-/Asteroid_belt_in_orbit/

AsteroidsA relatively small, inactive, rocky body which orbits the sun.

• C-type, 75% of known asteroids: extremely dark , approximately the same chemical composition as the Sun minus hydrogen, helium and other volatiles.

• S-type, 17%: relatively bright , composed of metallic nickel-iron mixed with iron- and magnesium-silicates;

• M-type, most of the rest: bright, composed of pure nickel-iron.

• There are also a dozen or so other rare types.

http://www.nineplanets.org/asteroids.htmlhttp://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/faq/#diff

The largest asteroid is Ceres, which is 933 kilometers (580 miles) across.

http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/comets.phphttp://www.wallpapers-free.org/49/-/Asteroid_belt_in_orbit/

Meteors, Meteoroids, and Meteorites

What is a Meteor?• The light phenomena which

results when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and vaporizes. Also known as a shooting star.

What is a Meteorite?• A Meteoroid that has landed

on Earth’s surface.

What is a Meteoroid?• A small particle from a

comet or an asteroid orbiting the Sun.

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/faq/#diff

http://www.wallpapers-free.org/49//Asteroid_belt_in_orbit/

Comets

A relatively small, at times active, object whose ices can vaporize in sunlight forming an atmosphere (coma) of dust and gas and, sometimes, a tail of dust and/or gas.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Comet-Hale-Bopp-29-03-1997.jpeg

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/faq/#diff

http://www.wallpapers-free.org/49/-/Asteroid_belt_in_orbit/

Some Interesting Facts

• Many asteroids, including all of the largest asteroids, orbit the sun between Mars and Jupiter in the Asteroid Belt.

• Meteors are the short, white trails across the sky that we call "shooting stars."

• Comets come from two places in the Solar System: the Oort Cloud and the Kuiper Belt.

http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/comets.phphttp://www.wallpapers-free.org/49/-/Asteroid_belt_in_orbit/

What If?Close your eyes. Think about how an asteroid might look floating through space. What is the shape? Is it sparkly? Dull? Filled with delicious minerals? Does it have craters?

Now imagine that you are a scientist who has discovered a huge asteroid hurtling through space. Create a 3-D model of the new asteroid, then draw and label your model on a separate piece of paper. Be sure to name your new discovery!!!

http://cdn.physorg.com/newman/gfx/news/hires/asteroid2867.jpg

Create Your Own Asteroid!!!Directions:

• Get into groups of 5 or 6.• Have one person from each

group collect materials from the list.

• PUT ON FOOD GLOVES!!!• Mix dough, be sure to

follow the recipe. • Divide dough into a ball for

each person. • Individually, add your own

food “minerals” to create your own asteroid!

• Minerals to Add: Iron-silicate: Chocolate

chips or Raisins. Magnesium-silicate: Rice

Crispies or vanilla chips or oatmeal.

Metallic-iron: Rainbow sprinkles or edible glitter.

• After your asteroid is complete: Create a picture of your asteroid, labeling the different minerals, if it has any craters and don’t forget to name it.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/asteroids/composition.shtml

http://www.wallpapers-free.org/49/-/Asteroid_belt_in_orbit/