ASTEROIDS, COMETS, AND METEORS

Asteroids

Asteroids are small chunks of irregularly shaped objects that occupy the 350 million miles space between Mars and Jupiter

The existence of the asteroid belt is somewhat a mystery. One theory contends that billions of years ago, a large, rocky planet may have existed in this large gap between Mars and Jupiter. Some type of collision with blasted it apart.

THE ASTERIOD BELT

The asteroids in the asteroid belt range in size. They vary in size, shape, color, and composition.

A German astronomer Johan Bode, accidentally discovered the existence of these miniature planets in 1800.

AS TO SIZE,

Ceres is the largest asteroid.

Giuseppe Piazzi discovered it on January 1, 1801.

Pallas is the second largest asteroid.

Next is the Vesta.

AS TO COLOR AND COMPOSITION, ASTEROID ARE OF 3 TYPES

C-type asteroids are very dark and carbonaceous. There are 75 percent of known asteroids that are of the C-type,

S-type asteroids are rusty red in color and they are composed of iron and magnesium silicate.

M-type Asteroids are rich with metallic substances.

ACCORDING TO POSITION

Athens is the first type of asteroids. They lie near the orbit of mars.
Examples: ceres, pallas, Juno, and vesta.

Apollos is the second type of asteroids. They lie near the jupiter and they have highly elliptical orbits.
Examples: eros, geographos, and Icarus.

Trojans are the third type. They lie within the main asteroid belt and they circle the sun for 12 years.
Examples: hector, diomedes, agamemnom and petrocius.

COMETS

Comets are known since ancient times.

3 BASIC PARTS

Nucleus, which is believed to be solid and composed of frozen gases, water vapor, and dust particles.

Coma, a cloudlike structure that surrounds the nucleus which is composed of gas and small bits of rocks and dust.

Tail, that is composed of gas or dust particles, or both.

Comets appear in the sky from time to time. Some comets return on a cycle every few years.

2 GROUPS OF COMETS ACCORDING TO THEIR ORDER OF APPEARANCES

• Short period comets have orbits that take less than 200 yrs.
• Long period comets have orbits that take more than 200 yrs.

KUIPER BELT OBJECTS

THIS IS THE NAME GIVEN TO THE MANY SMALL BODIES FOUND ORBITING THE SUN FROM BEYOND NEPTUNE AND PLUTO.

THE OORT CLOUD

The Oort cloud is a theoretical, spherical gathering of rocks at the outer edge of the solar system.

METEORS

Meteors are bright streak of light that dart the night sky, which are referred to as shooting stars.

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Meteors come from two sources: from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and from the tails of comets.

Friction with the earth's atmosphere caused them to glow and vaporize completely in space.

Meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate from one point in the night sky.

Meteor shower is a regular sight in the midmonth of August, because in this month, earth crosses the path of comets and meteors are seen in the earth's atmosphere.

IMPACTS OF ASTEROIDS AND COMETS ON EARTH

Asteroids and comets have continuously pelted the earth, as well as the other planets of the solar system and their respective satellites ever since their formation.

PREDICTED EFFECTS OF ASTEROID IMPACT ON EARTH

Many scientist believe that asteroids with the sizes ranging from 100 to 500 meters that could penetrate the atmosphere can cause local damage. If the impact occurred in the ocean, can cause very deadly tidal waves. In the land, it can cause great amount of dust to cover the atmosphere, and such phenomenon can change the local climate.

XIE XIE! 😘

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