Many of you have probably heard about asteroid 2005 YU55, the
massive rocky body that tomorrow night will collide with Earth
in a ball of flames pass the planet safely, albeit closer than
any asteroid in the last 35 years. And while astronomers are
certain we'll be spared this time, the brush with such a massive
rock raises important questions about so-called near-Earth
objects like asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. So without
further ado, here are ten things you probably didn't know about
our solar system's more minor bodies. 10. The difference between
asteroids, comets, meteoroids, meteors and meteorites Let's just
get this out of the way, shall we? According to NASA's Near
Earth Object (NEO) Program, a large, rocky body in orbit around
the Sun is referred to as either an asteroid or a minor planet.
Asteroids are thought to have been created in the "warmer" solar
system, i.e. within Jupiter's orbit. Comets, on the other hand,
are believed to have formed in the cold, outer solar system —
beyond the orbit of