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OUT OF THIS WORLD: COMETSASTEROIDS, AND METEOROIDS
By Mercury Williams
Edited by __________________
In the Milky Way galaxy lies our solar system, a region composed
of the sun, eight planets, and moons. Most people disregard
the smaller celestial bodies called asteroids, comets, and
meteoroids that fill our solar system.
COMETS
Comets, commonly known as “Dirty Snowballs” are composed mainly of
ice, dust, rock, and frozen gases that do not have any definite shape.
Comets appear to be fireballs of light zooming through the
sky. Comets, however, do not produce their own light. Gas and dust particles reflect the
sun’s light.
In 1986, scientists all over the world awaited the arrival of Halley's comet. This would be the only opportunity in
history to gather information about such a comet, because its motion is
extremely unpredictable.
ASTEROIDS
Asteroids are fragments of rock with an irregular shape that orbit the sun. They are too numerous
to be considered planets.
Most asteroids can be found orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter. This region is known as the asteroid belt.
Asteroids may be made of rocky material, and can contain metals and other elements. Most are small, but some are larger than 300 km across.
The largest are Ceres, Vesta,
Hygiea, and Pallas.
METEOROIDS
Meteoroids, bits of rock and metal, are formed from asteroids and comets. These small celestial
objects move throughout the solar system.
Meteors are also know as shooting stars. When a meteoroid enters the atmosphere, friction with the air creates heat, and produces a streak of light. This is called a meteor.
Meteorites are meteoroids that pass through the atmosphere
and hit the Earth’s surface before they burn up. Meteorites are
classified based on their composition.
Students,
I’m having a hard time concluding this PowerPoint. Please write a summary.
Thanks-
Mercury