What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Comets and asteroids are both small celestial objects orbiting the Sun, but they differ significantly in their composition, appearance, and behavior. Asteroids are primarily made of rock and metal. They tend to have solid, rocky surfaces and usually orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, although some can be found throughout the solar system. Because they lack significant amounts of ice, asteroids generally do not develop tails or comas. Comets, on the other hand, are composed mostly of ice, dust, and rocky material. They originate from the colder outer regions of the solar system, such as the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud. When a comet approaches the Sun, the heat causes its icy components to vaporize, creating a glowing coma (a cloud of gas and dust) around the nucleus and often a distinctive tail that points away from the Sun. This tail is one of the most recognizable features of a comet. In summary, the main differences are composition (rocky vs. icy), location of origin, and the presence of a visible coma and tail when near the Sun, which are characteristic of comets but not asteroids.

Comets and asteroids are both small celestial bodies orbiting the Sun, but they differ significantly in their composition, appearance, and behavior. Asteroids are primarily made of rock and metal and are mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They tend to have irregular shapes and do not display atmospheres or tails. Because they are composed mostly of rocky material, asteroids remain relatively unchanged as they orbit the Sun. Comets, on the other hand, are made up largely of ice, dust, and rocky material. They originate from the colder outer regions of the solar system, such as the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud. When a comet approaches the Sun, the heat causes the ice to vaporize, creating a glowing coma (a fuzzy atmosphere) and often a bright tail that points away from the Sun. This tail is one of the most distinctive features of a comet. In summary, the key differences are that asteroids are rocky and mostly inert, while comets contain ice and develop visible atmospheres and tails when heated by the Sun.

Comets and asteroids are both small celestial bodies orbiting the Sun, but they differ primarily in their composition, appearance, and origin. Asteroids are mostly made of rock and metal and are generally found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They tend to have a solid, rocky surface and do not produce tails. Because they lack significant amounts of volatile materials, asteroids remain relatively inactive as they orbit the Sun. Comets, on the other hand, are composed largely of ice, dust, and rocky material. They typically originate from the outer regions of the solar system, such as the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud. When a comet approaches the Sun, the heat causes its icy components to vaporize, creating a glowing coma (a surrounding cloud of gas and dust) and often a visible tail that points away from the Sun. This dramatic display is the hallmark of comets and distinguishes them from asteroids. In summary, the main differences are that asteroids are rocky or metallic and usually inactive, while comets are icy bodies that develop tails as they near the Sun.