• Question: What is the difference between an asteroid and a comet?

    Asked by Sharmin_the BEST to Chris on 17 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Chris Conselice

      Chris Conselice answered on 17 Mar 2016:

      An astroid is in the inner solar system, up to the orbit of Jupiter and consists of just rock. A comet comes from the outer edge of the solar system in an area called the Oort cloud. Comets are made up of gases, dust and rock, and that’s why you see the tails when they orbit the sun, it’s the material being heated off!

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