1. Small Bodies in our Solar System

2. Comets A small body of ice, A small body of ice, rock and cosmic dust “Dirty Snowball” “Dirty Snowball” These are samples These are samples (left over) from the beginning solar system formation

3. Comet Tails Dust Tail: when comet gets Dust Tail: when comet gets close enough to Sun Ion Tail: electrically Ion Tail: electrically charged particles Nucleus: center of Nucleus: center ofcomet

4. Comet Orbits Ellipse shape orbit Ellipse shape orbit Tail always points away Tail always points away from Sun because of Solar winds

5. Comet Origin Comets come from the Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt Comets come from the Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt

6. Asteroids Small, rocky bodies Small, rocky bodies that revolve around the Sun Vary in size and Vary in size andshape Asteroid Belt: Asteroid Belt: Between Mars and Jupiter

7. Meteoroids and Meteorites Meteoroid: Similar to asteroids but smaller Meteoroid: Similar to asteroids but smaller If it enters our atmosphere and strikes the ground it is called a Meteorite, it looks like a streak or shooting star in the sky If it enters our atmosphere and strikes the ground it is called a Meteorite, it looks like a streak or shooting star in the sky

8. Meteor Showers Meteor Showers: certain times of year when Earth passes through dusty debris and large amount of meteors are in sight

9. Types of Meteorites StonyMetallicStony-Iron

10. Impacts The surface of our Moon has more impact craters because the Moon has no atmosphere to these objects slow down or “burn them” The surface of our Moon has more impact craters because the Moon has no atmosphere to these objects slow down or “burn them” Atmosphere acts as a shield on Earth Atmosphere acts as a shield on Earth Earth craters not as visible because of weathering, erosion and tectonic activity Earth craters not as visible because of weathering, erosion and tectonic activity Large objects strike Earth every few thousand years Large objects strike Earth every few thousand years

11. Earth Craters This is the Barringer Meteor Crater in Arizona. The diameter is 1.2 kilometers, and it is 49,000 years old

12. Lunar Craters

13. Torino Scale A system that allows scientists to rate the hazard level of an object moving toward Earth