Choose TWO LETTER CHOCIES from the following list. Then, in 3-5 complete sentences, explain how they are different by contrasting their characteristics. (Hint: Think about their characteristics and how they are formed.) (a) Star and planet (b) Asteroid and comet (c) Meteoroid and comet (d) Galaxy and constellation

(write like an 8th grader)

1 answer

I choose (a) Star and planet. Stars and planets are both celestial bodies, but they have some key differences. Stars, like our Sun, are massive balls of gas that produce light and heat through nuclear fusion. This process allows them to shine brightly in the sky. In contrast, planets are much smaller and do not produce their own light; instead, they reflect the light from stars. Planets are made up of solid rock or gas and orbit stars in defined paths, while stars exist independently in space.

I also choose (b) Asteroid and comet. Asteroids and comets are both types of small bodies found in our solar system, but they differ in composition and origin. Asteroids are mostly made of rock and metal and are primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Comets, on the other hand, are made of ice, dust, and rocky materials, and they come from the outer regions of the solar system, like the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud. When comets approach the Sun, they develop a glowing coma and a tail due to the heating of their icy components, while asteroids typically remain solid and do not have tails.