What Causes a ‘Comet’ and How Is It Different from an ‘Asteroid’?

Imagine comets as like icy snowballs from the far reaches of space. When they get close to the Sun, the heat makes ice melt and release tiny dust particles, making them shine bright in the sky, almost like a glowing snowball. Asteroids are more like rocky stones that don’t have much ice or dust inside, so they just sit there quietly most of the time.

Comets get their sparkle from ice and dust, which come out when they feel the Sun’s warmth.

Asteroids are made mostly of rock and metal, so they don’t glow like comets do.