Compare and contrast comets, meteors, and asteroids.

Asteroids are the only ones that can form tails when they approach the Sun.

Comets are only found in the asteroid belt.

Comets are icy bodies that release gas and dust, while asteroids are rocky and metallic, and meteors are the glowing trails seen when they enter Earth's atmosphere.

Meteors are the same as asteroids, but larger.

Meteoroids are larger than asteroids and can actually collide with planets.

Meteoroids are smaller than asteroids, typically ranging from a grain of sand to a few meters in size.

Meteoroids are composed mainly of gas, unlike asteroids which are solid.

Asteroids are always found in a belt, while meteoroids can be found anywhere in space.

Meteors are primarily made of metal and are larger than comets.

Asteroids always have tails that point away from the Sun.

Comets have a nucleus made of ice and dust, which can form a tail when near the Sun.

Comets do not originate from the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud.

Comets always orbit the Sun in a circular path, unlike asteroids.

Comets have orbits that are always confined to the inner solar system.

Asteroids can travel beyond the solar system, while comets cannot.

Comets have highly elliptical orbits that can take them far beyond the solar system, while asteroids have more circular orbits primarily located in the asteroid belt.

Comets produce rings of debris that encircle them when near the Sun.

Comets become completely invisible as they approach the Sun.

Comets appear as bright points of light but do not change in appearance when near the Sun.

Comets develop a glowing coma and often a tail that points away from the Sun due to the sublimation of their icy components.

Asteroids primarily exist around the Sun in a cloud-like formation.

Most asteroids orbit close to Earth and are a significant threat to it.

Asteroids are mostly found in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune.

Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Comets are larger than asteroids, which are smaller and made of gas.

Comets are found only in the inner solar system, while asteroids are found in the outer solar system.

Asteroids can form a tail when they approach the Sun, unlike comets.

Comets are primarily made of ice and dust, while asteroids are mostly composed of rock and metal.

It turns into a comet if it survives the journey.

It creates a bright streak of light known as a meteor as it burns up due to friction with the air.

It causes a massive explosion upon entry without any visible light.

It remains unchanged and passes through to the other side of the Earth.

Asteroids and comets are the same size, while meteors are small.

Comets are the largest, while meteors and asteroids are much smaller.

Meteors are larger than asteroids and comets.

Asteroids are typically the largest, followed by comets, while meteors are the smallest particles that can be visible as streaks in the sky.

It disintegrates completely and is no longer visible.

It becomes a comet if it reaches the Earth's surface.

It is called a meteorite.

It is referred to as an asteroid upon landing.

A metal-rich object in the asteroid belt

A small icy body that, when passing close to the Sun, produces a visible atmosphere and sometimes a tail

A piece of space debris that burns up in the Earth's atmosphere

A rocky body that orbits the Sun

It burns up and produces a bright streak of light known as a meteor

It transforms into a comet

It lands on Earth's surface without any change

It becomes an asteroid

It is made of solid rock that breaks off

It collides with asteroids in space

The heat from the Sun vaporizes the comet's ices, releasing gas and dust

The gravitational pull of Earth attracts it

In the inner solar system

In the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune

Around Earth's orbit

Mainly in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter

A meteoroid becomes a meteor when it enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up

Meteoroids only exist in space, while meteors exist on Earth

A meteor is larger than a meteoroid

Meteoroids are visible, while meteors are not