Download comets-asteroids-meteors

Name: TG:
Learning Targets: - I can describe different objects in space.
Comets and Asteroids and Meteors, Oh My!
Falling Stars
Comets
The sight of a falling star is exciting. Before you can say, “Look!” the streak is gone. You
point to where it was and ask others if they saw it, too. Often, no one else sees the
speedy flight of light flash by. You’re left trying to describe what you saw and felt. You
1)stare
Name
the parts of the comet below:
at the dark space, hoping another will streak across the sky.
!
Terms: Nucleus!
Coma!!
Dust Tail!
Ion Tail
What is a falling star? A falling star is not a star at all. It is not even a piece of a star.
Stars are huge balls of burning gas sending off great amounts of energy in the form of
light and heat. Stars are much bigger than our planet. Stars do not fall; they stay in
their own places in their own galaxies. Our Sun is a star.
A falling star is a meteor. Meteors are streaks of light in the sky that we can see when
a small speck of dust burns up high in the air above us. Where do these specks of dust
come from? Comets! (And, don’t forget space dirt!)
Astronomers call this dirt and comet dust “meteoroids.” Meteoroids are different sizes.
Some are larger. Most are tiny. Meteoroids hit the Earth’s atmosphere at super, high
speed. Sometimes it’s faster than 90,000 miles per hour. When they are in the
atmosphere, they become “meteors.” The meteor usually burns up. This creates the
streak of light we see. It looks like a star falling from the sky. This is why they are
called a “falling star.” Meteors usually last just a second or two.
2) Watch comet ISON’s path on the interactive online model. What direction does the
comet’s tail point. (www.solarsystemscope.com/ison/)
3) What do the orbits of comets usually look like?
4) What are comets made of?
5) Where do comets come from?
6) Research two famous comets. Complete the table below:
Comet Name
Year Discovered
How many years to
complete an orbit
Additional fact
7) Complete the table
Asteroid, Comet, or Meteor?
Place an “X” in the appropriate boxes to indicate characteristics of asteroids, comets,
and meteors.
Asteroid
Made of ice,
dust, and gas.
Appears as a
streak in the sky.
Made of rock
and/or metal.
Orbits the
Sun.
Often called
“shooting stars.”
Sometimes called
a “dirty
snowball.”
Orbits between
Mars and
Jupiter.
Most are found in
the Oort Cloud or
Kuiper Belt.
Comet
Meteor
Student name: ___________
he difference between comets, meteors and asteroids
8) Complete the Venn Diagram using the characteristics on the next page
Question 1:
Add the characteristics listed below to the appropriate location on the Venn diagram.
Meteors
Asteroids
Comets
Characteristics
1. Progress across the
sky very slowly
2. Remnants of the
formation of the solar
system
7. Most found in the
asteroid belt
8. Most are less than a
km in diameter
9. Most have slightly
13. Streak across the sky
very fast
14. Most are fragments of
large asteroids
15. Icy objects
Characteristics to include in the Venn Diagram:
1.
Progress across the sky very slowly
2.
Remnants of the formation of the solar system
3.
Reflect sunlight
4.
Rocky composition
5.
Orbit the Sun in highly elliptical orbits
6.
Measure a few kilometers in diameter
7.
Most found in the asteroid belt
8.
Most are less than a km in diameter
9.
Most have slightly elliptical orbits
10. Most are less than 100 m in diameter
11. Also known as shooting stars
12. Most burn up as they enter Earth’s
13. Streak across the sky very fast
14. Most are fragments of large asteroids
15. Icy objects
16. Meteor showers are caused by the Earth passing through the debris path of a
comet
17. Tail always points away from the Sun
Also include 3 new characteristics
18.
19.
20.
Exceeds: (Choose 2, any portion completed will receive partial credit)
1) Discuss the life of the comet ISON. Where did come from, what happened as it
passed the sun and why are scientists so interested.
2) Provide an update on Rosetta, the satellite designed to land on a comet. What are
the scientists hoping to find out?
3) Why are scientists and researchers so interested in comets, asteroids and
meteorites? What questions are scientists hoping to answer.