How Does a ‘Comet’ Differ from an ‘Asteroid’?

Comets and asteroids are both space rocks, but they act differently. Comets are like icy snowballs that melt when they get close to the Sun, making them shine and leave a tail behind. Asteroids are more like rocky lumps with no ice, so they just sit there in space most of the time.

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A comet is like a snowball in space, it melts and glows as it approaches the Sun.
An asteroid is more like a rock, it just sits there in space without melting or glowing.
When you see a bright streak across the sky, it might be a comet; if it’s a dark lump passing by, it might be an asteroid.

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Categories: Space · comet,asteroid,space objects