What are comets similar to?

Exploring comets Although ICE had no cameras, it detected water and carbon monoxide, confirming the theory that comets are similar to dirty snowballs.

Are comets similar to asteroids?

Although both asteroids and comets were formed in the early days of our solar system’s formation, asteroids are huge rocky objects that are mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, whereas comets are frozen balls of gas, ice and rocky material.

Are comets similar to planets?

Kid-Friendly Comets

Comets orbit the Sun just like planets and asteroids do, except a comet usually has a very elongated orbit. As the comet gets closer to the Sun, some of the ice starts to melt and boil off, along with particles of dust. These particles and gases make a cloud around the nucleus, called a coma.

Are asteroids and comets similar in size?

Although a comet nucleus is usually smaller than 25 miles across, the coma may be as big as 2 million miles across! Asteroid Ceres is about the same distance across as Texas. Asteroid Vesta is about the same distance across as Arizona.

What are the similarities between comets and meteors?

Both are relatively small objects that have their origins in interplanetary space, orbiting the sun. A few meteorites may actually be fragments of comets, although such fragments are more likely to burn up as meteors in the upper atmosphere.