What is Comets and asteroids are both minor planets?

Comets and asteroids are both minor planets, which means they’re like smaller cousins to the big planets we know.

Imagine you have a toy box full of different kinds of toys, some are cars, some are blocks, and some are tiny action figures. Minor planets are like those small toys in space. They're not as big as Earth or Jupiter, but they still zoom around the Sun, just like the bigger planets do.

Now think about two different kinds of toys: one is a smooth rock that doesn’t change much, that’s like an asteroid. It mostly stays the same and travels in space.

The other toy is something more exciting, it has ice inside, and when it gets close to the Sun, it starts to glow and leave a bright trail behind, that's a comet! So even though they're both minor planets, comets are like sparkly rocks with a special trick, while asteroids are just plain old rocks in space.