What's the Difference Between Asteroids and Comets?

NGSS Phenomena:
Use the below images and captions to answer the questions that follow:
NGSS Phenomena: A comet, with a rough surface, that's close to the shape of a potato and a head of broccoli stuck together.
The comet 67P observed by the Rosetta spacecraft.
ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
NGSS Phenomena: A comet with light streaks coming off of it's rough and rocky surface.
The comet 67P observed by the Rosetta spacecraft in 2014 firing its first jets.
ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM
NGSS Phenomena: An asteroid in the shape of a potato, with a smooth surface that has a few impact craters. Around the asteroid a much smaller moon orbits.
Photo of Ida (asteroid) and Dactyl (small moon on the right) taken by NASA's Galileo spacecraft. This photo was taken from 6,500 miles away.
NASA/JPL
NGSS Phenomena: A large asteroid in the shape of a ball, with large impact craters of different sizes all over its surface.
Image of Vesta, the second largest asteroid in the asteroid belt, taken by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA
NGSS Phenomena:

1. Scientists discover a new Asteroid in a nearby system that has a radius of 102 miles and a new comet that’s 3.5 miles wide. In the space below, draw 2 pictures to predict the of shape and scale of each of these objects.

Color

Width

2. Explain how your diagram shows the difference in shape and scale between these two. Cite evidence from the information given to help explain your choices in your drawing.

3.
The figure above shows side-by-side images of the cratered surfaces of Vesta and of Earth’s moon. The table contains data about our moon.

Your classmate looks at the photos above and states, “The craters on Vesta must be about the same size as the ones on the moon.” Do you agree or disagree with her claim? Use the data provided in this and the other figures to support your answer.

4.
The data table below tells us information about a few different asteroids and comets. Rank the celestial bodies from least massive to most massive. Then, write a few sentences that describe any trends you notice in the mass data.

5. Organize the different celestial bodies from largest mass to smallest mass


- Largest



- Smallest

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

4 Vesta
67P
243 Ida

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