Smartbites #1 - Asteroids, Meteoroids and Comets
Once and for all, what's the damn difference between those?
As you probably know they're all celestial bodies, but what those termes differentiate are their properties of size and composition and also where they are.
Why size matters!
While in space, whether they are small or big determines if they should be called a METEOROID (small) or an ASTEROID (big)!
What about their composition?
Most asteroids and meteoroids are just giant or not so giant rocks in outer space. But there are some of them (especially those whose orbits (trajectories) let them travel far, far away from the sun) which have accumulated loose dust and also ice and other frozen compounds. They are called COMETS because when they travel closer to the sun again they form a tail of dust and gases due to the power of the sun.
But wait, there's more.
When an asteroid or meteoroid enters the earth's atmosphere it begins to burn up due to the collision with air molecules, creating a visible streak of light. In that case they are given a new name: they're now METEORS, colloquially known as shooting stars. Should they be big enough and don't burn up entirely before they actually hit the ground, their remaining debris will be called METEORITE.
I hope that helps! See you around!
P.S.: If you would like me to do another Smartbite on a specific topic, feel free to let me know in the comment section! :)
Nice, I knew both were called meteors once they entered the atmosphere, but I never realised the one was a meteoroid while still in space. Thanks for the factoid... or is it factite, shit now I'm confused.
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