Space Rocks
How many space rocks orbit our sun?
Millions
Ice
The big ball of steam and dust surrounding the ice of a comet is called what?
Coma
If a comet's orbit takes over 200 years, it is called what?
long-period
What is a small piece of space rock or dust floating in space?
meteoroid
The first NASA spacecraft specifically designed to study comets was called what?
Stardust
The word "comet" comes from what language?
Greek
If a comet's orbit takes less than 200 years, it is called what?
short-period
Halley's Comet orbits how often?
Every 76 years
The difference between a meteoroid and an asteroid is what?
its size
Asteroid belt
Surprise - free points
300
distances in our solar system are measured using what unit?
Astronomical unit
How far is an astronomical unit?
93 million miles
What it the idea that there was once a planet between Mars & Jupiter?
Exploded Planet Hypothesis
When a meteoroid hits Earth's atmosphere and burns up, what is it called?
Meteor
Meteorite
What comet made history when it plunged into Jupiter?
Shoemaker-Levy 9
What was the biggest and brightest comet seen from Earth in the last century?
Hale-Bopp
What is it called when ice goes directly from a solid to a gas?
Sublimate
What type of orbits do comets have?
elliptical
Head of hair
If all a comet's ice burns off, what is it then called?
Asteroid
A bunch of shooting stars is called what?
Meteor shower
7 asteroids are named after which space shuttle disaster?
Columbia