SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -They are among the smallest “space rocks.” We can see them when they streak through our atmosphere in the form of meteors and meteor showers.

Detailed explanation-2: -Four basic categories of smaller materials exist in the solar system: meteoroids; asteroids (or minor planets); comets; and dust and gas. These categories are differentiated on the basis of chemistry, orbital characteristics, and their origins.

Detailed explanation-3: -The small bodies in the solar system include comets, asteroids, the objects in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort cloud, small planetary satellites, Triton, Pluto, Charon, and interplanetary dust.

Detailed explanation-4: -While the name is always applied to small bodies during the process of planet formation, some scientists also use the term planetesimal as a general term to refer to many small Solar System bodies – such as asteroids and comets – which are left over from the formation process.

Detailed explanation-5: -Asteroids, sometimes called minor planets, are rocky remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. Most of this ancient space rubble can be found orbiting our Sun between Mars and Jupiter within the main asteroid belt.