(Note – Asteroids cannot be seen without a telescope.) Meteoroids/Meteors/Meteorites Where They Come Size Range Definition of a Definition of a Meteor Definition of a From Meteoroid Meteorite Most come from the Grain of sand to Grain or rock that Grain or rock that has A meteor that is Asteroid Belt. around 100 yards. is travelling in entered the atmosphere enough to survive the Few come from particles space. (sometimes called trip through the left from comets when “shooting” or “falling” atmosphere and hit Earth crosses their path. star.) the Earth’s surface. Kuiper Belt Objects Composition Locations Distance from Number Size Two Largest (what they’re Sun (millions of made of) miles) – Icy bodies Outside Neptune’s 3,000,000,000 to Estimated at 1,500 miles to 100 Eris 1,500 miles – orbit. 5,200,000,000 100,000 62 miles yards. Pluto 1,400 miles or larger. (Note – Kuiper Belt Objects cannot be seen without a telescope.)
(Note – Asteroids cannot be seen without a telescope.) Meteoroids/Meteors/Meteorites Where They Come From Size Range Definition of a Meteoroid Definition of a Meteor Definition of a Meteorite Most come from the Asteroid Belt. Few come from particles left from comets when Earth crosses their path. Grain of sand to around 100 yards. Grain or rock that is travelling in space. Grain or rock that has entered the atmosphere (sometimes called “shooting” or “falling” star.) A meteor that is enough to survive the trip through the atmosphere and hit the Earth’s surface. Kuiper Belt Objects Composition (what they’re made of) Locations Distance from Sun (millions of miles) Number Size Two Largest Icy bodies Outside Neptune’s orbit. 3,000,000,000 to 5,200,000,000 Estimated at 100,000 62 miles or larger. 1,500 miles to 100 yards. Eris – 1,500 miles Pluto – 1,400 miles (Note – Kuiper Belt Objects cannot be seen without a telescope.)
SolarSystemDataSheet.docx