What is the difference between Comets and Asteroids? - ProProfs Discuss
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What is the difference between Comets and Asteroids?

Asked by Jessica , Last updated: Apr 19, 2024

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4 Answers

G. Cole

G. Cole

Find happiness in writing new things.

G. Cole
G. Cole, English Professor, PhD, Canterbury

Answered Dec 22, 2020

The different heavenly bodies look similar to people who are not familiar with them but they have some differences that you should know. Asteroids are composed of different metals and other rocky materials while comets are normally made out of ice, dust, and other types of rocks.

There are also more asteroids that will have the tendency to form more near the sun as compared to comets. Comets will develop far away from the sun because there is not too much heat there. Asteroids are normally too warm so ice will not have any chance to remain solid. Asteroids are known to be much bigger as compared to comets.

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H. Ruby

H. Ruby

H. Ruby
H. Ruby

Answered Dec 21, 2020

The solar system is complex, because there are many different elements that make up the solar system. Two of the many aspects that make up the solar system are comets and asteroids. Both of these bodies of the solar system are close to Earth.

One of the key differences between the two is where each can be seen at. Asteroids are mainly seen in what is called an asteroid belt. It can be found between the planets of Jupiter and Mars. Comets are seen in the comet belt that is far from the Sun. Another difference between them is the amount that exist. There are millions of asteroids, whereas there are less than 4000 comets.

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L. Cooper

L. Cooper

Analyst by profession but writer by heart.

L. Cooper
L. Cooper, Data Analyst, MCA, Newcastle

Answered Jul 29, 2020

Asteroids and comets are two more heavenly bodies that are quite close to the earth. They are mostly in form or rocks, ice, or the two. And scientists consider them as remnants of the planet, and they near-earth objects that have the likeness of having a collision with the earth. These two objects actually orbit the sun between the Jupiter and Mars planets, but the asteroids move more in a circular manner, while the comets move more in an elongated manner.

Asteroids and comets are two more heavenly bodies that are quite close to the earth. They are
The scientists find it easier to study the asteroids than the comets, simply because the asteroids are nearer, while the orbits are farther. Only 3,572 comets could be accounted for as of 2008, whereas I read that there are typically millions of asteroids. The asteroids are found concentrated around the asteroid belt. However, the comets are being said to originate from a belt of orbiting material referred to as the "Oort Cloud."

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R. Barnes

R. Barnes

I am a nature lover.

R. Barnes
R. Barnes, Professional Gamer, Graduation, Oakland

Answered Jul 22, 2020

Asteroids and comets have some things in common as they are often explained to be the remnants of the formation of the solar system which happened over 4 billion years ago. Just like the planets, asteroids and comets have the ability to orbit the sun, though asteroid's movement around the sun is more circular, whereas comets have longer orbits.

Asteroids and comets have some things in common as they are often explained to be the remnants of
Asteroids are mostly seen in the asteroid belt between planet Mars and Jupiter. In contrast, the orbiting belt for the comets is believed to be very far from the sun. In terms of size, there are millions of asteroids in the solar system, and they are easy to detect because of their smaller orbits. In contrast, the total number of comets that have been detected is less than 4000. This is because it is very difficult to locate every single of them because they have longer orbits. Another difference is that while comets are made up of dust and frozen gas, asteroids consist of metals and rocks.

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