Comets, Meteors

and Asteroids

Astronomical Units (AU) and Light-Years (ly)

(AU and light years are both measurements of distance, generally used to show large amounts of distance between points. Light-years are better suited for calculating the vast distances between stars and galaxies, while AUs are better suited for calculating distance inside the (relatively) smaller space of a solar system

What is the composition of an

asteroids? Asteroids are made of rocks and metals.

Where did they come from?

Asteroids are left over from the formation of the solar system.

Asteroids•Where are asteroids located?

Asteroids are located in the “Asteroid Belt” between orbits of Mars & Jupiter

Some asteroids may beKnocked outside the Asteroid Belt by colliding with other asteroids.

Comets

Where do they come from?ORIGIN:

Left over from formation of solar system

•Size of Comets

•About the size of a mountain (without the tail)

•Tails can be ≥ 100 million km

•Ice

•Dust

•Small rocky particles

Composition of Comets

Parts of a Comets:

•Nucleus – solid inner core

•Tail – gas & dust can been seen as the sun heats the comet & blows it away from the sun

Comet’s tail ALWAYS points away from the sun.

Comets orbit in long, narrow, elliptical paths around the Sun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwMXms7OsSQClick link below for animation

Where do meteors come from?

•Broken pieces of comets or asteroids!

Composition of Meteors

What are meteors made of?

Rock & dust

Size of meteors

Smaller than comets or asteroids (since they come from broken pieces of these!)The Perseid

Meteor Shower (happens every August) which has been observed for 2000 years!