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Understanding Comets, Asteroids, and NEOs

Comets and asteroids are referred to as Near-Earth Objects. They are icy or rocky remnants from the formation of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago. Comets usually originate from the Oort Cloud beyond our solar system or the Kuiper Belt just beyond Neptune, while asteroids originate from the Asteroid Belt closer to Earth. Asteroids are more likely to frequently visit Earth due to their shorter orbital periods and closer origins to our planet.

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66 views2 pages

Understanding Comets, Asteroids, and NEOs

Comets and asteroids are referred to as Near-Earth Objects. They are icy or rocky remnants from the formation of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago. Comets usually originate from the Oort Cloud beyond our solar system or the Kuiper Belt just beyond Neptune, while asteroids originate from the Asteroid Belt closer to Earth. Asteroids are more likely to frequently visit Earth due to their shorter orbital periods and closer origins to our planet.

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Lesson 3: COMETS, ASTEROIDS, AND METEORS

Near-Earth Objects (NEO)

Comets and asteroids are referred to by astronomers as Near-Earth Objects (NEO).

Comets are icy bodies or objects while asteroids are rocky fragments. They are remnants from the
formation of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago.

Q1. What do you think happened to the plants and animals living in the area where the comet or
asteroid crashed?

The plants and animals living in that area are most likely to have died on impact.

Q2. Which is most likely to make a more frequent “visitor” of Earth: a comet or an asteroid? Why do you
think so?

An asteroid because it has a shorter orbital period and its origin is most likely from the Asteroid
Belt which is nearer than the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud.

Comets and asteroids have irregular shapes and varied sizes. They both reflect light from the sun at
varying amounts depending on the size and composition.

Silicates are minerals which contain the minerals that contain the elements silicon, oxygen, and at least
one metal which is responsible for comets and asteroids to be able to reflect light.

Comet and asteroid both orbit the Sun

Comets usually come from the Oort Cloud which is beyond our Solar System, and a few from Kuiper
Belt which is just beyond

Neptune’s orbit.

Long-period comets come from the Oort cloud, while short-period comets come from Kuiper Belt.
Halley’s Comet

 The most famous comet of the 20th century.


 Only known short-period comet
 It takes 75-79 years for Comet Halley to orbit the Sun
*Long-period comets take 200 to hundred millions of
years to complete their orbit around the Sun.

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